Three Stars

***

Ginny Davis’ solo performance play will strike a chord particularly with parents of teenage children.  She takes on the role of Ruth Rich, a fifty something married mother of three teenage children. The oldest is a daughter at university. The remaining two, a daughter and a son, are in the difficult middle teenage years, a period of moods and ingratiation when something is wanted.

Ruth is a full time mum coping with the strains of modern family life, a forgetful mother, an irritating husband but in particular her children. Then there are her female acquaintances and especially Ruth who is estranged from her wealthy husband and has a liking for expensive clothes, breast enlargement and men.

Ruth’s witty account, delivered in a calm manner, follows the events of one week which includes school detention, teenage drinking at parties and being dumped. All these issues, and more, build up to various double bookings on the Friday evening. A quote from Sir Walter Scott comes to mind ‘Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive!’.

There is one technical problem with the staging. Since the seating in the Pleasance Courtyard Cellar is not banked, when Ginny Davis is seated on a low sofa, it is virtually impossible to see her from around the third row back.

Reviewed by Ben

Venue; Venue Number – Pleasance Courtyard ; V 33

Dates – 4 to 29 August 2010

Times – 12.55 to13.55

Fringe Programme Page Number: 246