Review: SEPTEMBER IN THE RAIN, Salisbury Playhouse (Livestream)
Photo credit: The Other Richard
September in the Rain by John Godber, currently playing at Salisbury Playhouse until 9 October, tells the story of Liz and Jack, a newlywed couple in the 1950s and follows their life story every year for their week-long holiday in Blackpool.
The way time is portrayed is cleverly done throughout the piece, with the same actors in the same costumes; it is through their individual soliloquies that the story is moved along. The use of multi-roling enables further characters, for example their children to be added to the continuum of time with effect.
The lighting in the piece is wonderful, set on a beach and beachside for the most part, the lighting helps to distinguish between the sunny days, the cloudy days and the rainy days with great effect.
Jack played by Ian Kelsey and Liz by Nicola Sloane are perhaps the stereotypical couple that you would come to expect and it seems a little like lazy characterisation on the writer’s part with this, however the way the actors have taken the words and ran with them is wonderful.
The enjoyable piece has humour interjected by Kelsey who, as Jack, is a character that everyone can relate to as an patriarchal figure within their own families, with quick quips and a grumpy demeanour that makes for funny viewing.
Sloane as Liz really does steal the show. She is wonderful in making you empathise with her, and multi-roles wonderfully playing their daughter Pam sufficiently as well. She has her own dry wit and creates the ‘quarrelling married couple’ vibe with ease.
The set is simple yet functional and paints the scene well. The use of the sand and the beach chairs sets the scene of Blackpool and the use of the bus shelter has a duel use but doesn’t detract from what the actors are doing.
The piece is a credit to the actors and crew who have taken Godber’s words and made it a comedy with depth and familial warmth.
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Emma Rooney
September in the Rain can be livestreamed or watched live at Salisbury Playhouse until 9 Oct. For more information and to book tickets, please click here.