Review: The Anniversary

The opening is a little shaky and it takes this young company a while to gel, but the staggered dialogue soon finds a natural rhythm and the actors begin to grow into their roles.

The play revolves around central character Mum, who brings her family together on the anniversary of Dad’s death in order to tear them apart.

She is an explosive, vicious woman and Ellen Sheehan pours body and soul into a well observed, sharp and consistently entertaining performance.

For a play that veers close to farce but never quite embraces it, the actors manage to deliver impressively restrained but forceful performances. There is a great balance and maturity to this company; no one steals the stage and as result everyone is given space to shine.

Rebecca Stoddart as fiancé Shirley and a newcomer to Mum’s wily ways is particularly convincing – the chemistry between her and Tom (played with real charm by Sam Millard) is genuine and palpable.

They manage to generate real emotion together, which is difficult in a play where wit takes precedence. For all its sparkling one-liners there is no real substance here and the energy inevitably drops as the laughs dry up and the sentiment kicks in.

This however is the playwright’s decision and not the company’s fault. The Anniversary isn’t going to ask any difficult questions, but if you’re looking for easy entertainment and spicy performances then it’s well worth the trip.