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No country for old women: Old Ladies - at Finborough Theatre

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The day after seeing The Old Ladies at the Finborough Theatre , I was describing the play to someone in great detail: about three old ladies who lived in a rickety house in southern England in 1935. Based on Hugh Walpole’s novel and adapted by Rodney Ackland, it is the sort of story with enough believability, humour and mild thriller to stick in your mind. Perhaps it is the lure of this dark, forboding tale of a life without money, to be alone and to be old, that makes you feel attracted to this poverty porn. But then again, given the state of the world, the cost of living, an ageing population, or just the fact that it’s a dog-eat-dog world, it might as well be an every little old lady-for-herself, too. It’s a well-acted and staged piece that moves at a brisk pace, so there isn’t much time to think about it too much. And in the intimate (or should that be claustrophobic?) space of the Finborough, there’s nowhere to avert your eyes. Even if you wanted to.  The scene is a grim Cathe...

Mother knows best: Merit @Finborough


I have a sister so I have witnessed a few mother-daughter conversations over the years. But pehaps none are as odd as those presented here in Merit by Alexandra Wood. It is currently playing at the Finborough Theatre.

It's a two hander that explores the growing apart between a mother and daughter. And the growing gulf between the rich and poor. But you are never sure whether the global financial crisis, inequality or just good old fashioned mother-daughter rivalry is what is at play here. It is ambiguous but it is also a compelling study of a parent who wishes her daughter every success. But she'll also be there to take her daughter down a peg or two if she gets too successful...




Set in Spain, the play opens with Sophia landing a job as a PA to a banker. Her mother thinks she got it by offering sexual favours given there are so many people out of work. This causes friction between the two that never is resolved. But as her mother's own circumstances change, she turns to her daughter. First for financial help, and then as she joins an anti-austerity group, for more different support.

It is a pity that as a two-hander you don't get to appreciate how desperate the Spanish economy became during "the crisis". Some scene setting might have helped explain how bad things got. Afterall there is a reason as to why so many young people working in London speak Spanish.


But while the work may be a little vague, the performances give the piece tension. Karen Ascoe isthe middle-class mother Patricia. She is driven to desperation by her own circumstances, the financial crisis and a sense of injustice. It's a terrific character and she plays it so chillingly pleasant.

Ellie Turner is her match as the angst-ridden yet ambitious daughter, torn between loyalty to her family and wanting to make it on her own.

It is a topical piece as well about youth unemployment. Just this week it was reported that youth unemployment in Britain (unlike the rest of Europe) is at its lowest since 2004. Although it isn't PA work but The Uber or gig economy that is is driving this change. Fast forward a few years later and maybe Patricia might have been rallying against Uber and Deliveroo too... Now there's an idea for a sequel...

Merit by Alexandra Wood and directed by Tom Littler plays at the Finborough until 26 March.

⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎

Photo credit: production photos by Robert Workman

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