Review: A TASTE OF HONEY, Royal Exchange Theatre

Photo credit: Johan Persson

A mastery in kitchen sink dramas, the Royal Exchange Theatre’s production of A Taste of Honey gives a sense of nostalgia intrinsically laced with the music of jazz. A timeless classic that never gets old.

In 1950s Salford, Jill Halfpenny plays the on-and-off mother Helen, alongside daughter Jo (Rowan Robinson) who is dragged around by her flitting mother’s escapades to run from her countless lovers. Shelagh Delaney’s age old script is brilliantly executed by the direction of Emma Baggott to produce a relevant depiction of working class life.

From the opening sequence, Halfpenny and Robinson embody the ragged relationship of Helen and Jo, respectively, with iconic comic timing that leaves the audience in fits of laughter throughout the piece. As central characters, the pair are perfectly cast to produce a rollercoaster performance across the 12 months of their residency in the new flat, exploring the lows of the arguments and the highs of Helen’s internal maternal instincts.

As a piece of total theatre, A Taste of Honey goes beyond traditional expectations. The lighting and set design with the addition of the moving industrialised lighting centre piece transports the audience straight into 1950s Salford. Working in-the-round is always admirable and the entire cast encapsulates each audience member from the beginning.

The addition of a jazz singer, the melodic voice of Nishla Smith, truly adds to the performance, time stamping each section of Jo’s pregnancy and the changing environment around her. Throughout, Smith makes a true impression on the spectator and ensures that each moment receives its glory, rarely leaving the stage. The final moments of the performance slightly disappoints, however; whilst the script sets up for an utterly tragic ending, the connection that Jo makes with the singer implies that she is never truly alone when birthing her child. Whilst for some, this may give a moment of hope and resolution for the character, it overall diminishes a moment that could be genuinely poignant.

A piece of timeless theatre can never be replaced and Delaney’s A Taste of Honey is no exception. The beauty of this show will never fade and the cast ensures that its legacy lives on.

**** Four stars

Reviewed by: Harley Keasey

A Taste of Honey plays at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester until 13 April, with further information here.