The Children is an interesting play, taking place in an unusual register which left me waiting the whole time for it to break into outright surrealism even though it never quite did - mid-play dance sequence interrupted by flood of, erm, brown toilet water notwithstanding - until maybe the end (yoga, waves, the sound of bells underwater). The conversational rhythms are just a touch off, the humour is somehow destabilising, and the mystery around Rose's (Sarah Peirse - terrific) motivations adds to the on-edge feeling, and the plot introduces, then eludes, some very conventional matter (especially the affair between Rose and Robin - William Zappa, just a bit stagey for me) on its way to a much more interesting treatment of generational wants, entitlement and responsibilities.
Having said that, this was one of those that I ended, maybe unfairly, feeling the play as written was maybe stronger than this production (despite a strong, truthful-feeling performance from Pamela Rabe as Hazel and a simple but good set and lighting etc). I couldn't put my finger on what was just a touch off; maybe, in this case, the 'failing' might have been in my own sensitivity, in needing to do more to meet this impressive play on its own terms.
(w/ Cass)
Having said that, this was one of those that I ended, maybe unfairly, feeling the play as written was maybe stronger than this production (despite a strong, truthful-feeling performance from Pamela Rabe as Hazel and a simple but good set and lighting etc). I couldn't put my finger on what was just a touch off; maybe, in this case, the 'failing' might have been in my own sensitivity, in needing to do more to meet this impressive play on its own terms.
(w/ Cass)
