Stuff In the Attic by Pat Whymark, presented by Common Ground Theatre Company, Sir John Mills Theatre, June 29
Some families only really get together at funerals.
It is a chance for friendships to be renewed but for old complaints and jealousies to be aired too.
When two brothers (Julian Harries and Richard Mainwaring), meet up again, to host a wake for their recently-deceased Dad, the mistrust and resentment is only just below the surface.
And, as they wait for the familly and friends to arrive, their bitterness and anger spills over.
It doesn’t sound a promising setting, with a coffin sitting in the living room, but Pat Whymark’s latest play for her own company, Common Ground, is very funny indeed.
The characters are finely drawn and, just like lots of brothers, easily wind each other up.
Not so much a black comedy, but one with shades of grey.
The brothers resent each other, for very different reasons.
Who did their Dad love most? Which one had the advantages in life?
Gradually, as they pore though a box of stuff from the attic, memories of better times are also exposed and they begin to understand each other and renew their relationship.
This sparklng one act play is broken into separate scenes by Pat’s haunting music and was over all too soon.
Time really does pass quickly when you are enjoying yourself.
Stuff In The Attic is also being presented at Ufford Village Hall on Friday July 5, Stutton Community Hall on Friday July 12 and the Jubilee Hall, Aldeburgh on Saturday July 13.
David Vincent
www.commongroundtc.co.uk
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