Jenny Rainsford is the clear star in the leading role of ‘Ivy Tiller Squirrel Killer’ with her quick comical timing and warmth.  Ivy Tiller is a dark and humorous observation on grief and of small town lives, which often titillates the soul and unexpectedly, at times, pulls on the heartstrings. The first half of Ivy Tiller could almost be viewed as a light-hearted comedy, were it not for Ivy’s PowerPoint slides of mutilated squirrels.

In a small town in Devon, we are led to believe Ivy has recently lost her teacher training position due to her mother’s passing. She then focuses all of her attention on saving the red squirrels as part of MMRSAF (Manaford Morton Red Squirrel Action Force). With help from her recently released, drug dealing cousin Gary, and her enthusiastic potential boyfriend Reece, Ivy takes on the grey squirrels of the town.

As the daughter of the village vicar, the pressure is on Ivy to conform. We watch as her grief unravels throughout the play, including her creating a visual aid for the children at the local school, which included a dead stuffed squirrel towering over a Sylvanian Family (you had to be there).

Ivy Tiller is a difficult, somewhat strange, yet lovable character whose naivety is almost infectious. The set doesn’t distract from the comical storytelling and it is clear that you are in a close-knit rural community throughout - the local pub being the central setting. The set is moved by crew members; however, it is unclear whether they are in character and so during the moving of the set, it is often distracting and a little confusing.

The play explores Ivy’s grief through dark humour and sincerity yet it lacks depth at times and could have been taken so much further.  There truly are some real laugh out loud moments, created by an incredibly talented cast, including when Ivy’s stern vicar father declares his undying love for Delia Smith during a dinner inspired by her recipes, preaching with absolute sincerity: “I can’t fathom how much poorer this country would be without Delia Smith.  She belongs amongst the elect.”

The play itself has bags of potential, but perhaps is too short to give the audience a full insight into these beloved characters and their own stories. We are left in the dark about the death of Ivy’s mother and whether her father’s grief has made him the stern and unlikable man that we are presented with.  Despite this, Ivy Tiller is a wonderful, dynamic character, you really need to meet her.

*** Three stars

Reviewed by: Sophie Eaton

Ivy Tiller: Vicar’s Daughter, Squirrel Killer plays at the RSC until 5 November, with tickets available here.