Review: TO HAVE AND TO HOLD, Hampstead Theatre

Photo credit: Marc Brenner

From the writer of riotous One Man Two Guvnors (Richard Bean) comes a more subdued and earnest comedy with a rather heartfelt message at the centre of it which can, at times, get lost beneath the desire to make unnecessarily bolder, more risqué statements that lack relevance and cross the line into questionable territory.

It's a very down-to-earth affair; the Kirk parents, Jack and Florence (played by Alun Armstrong and Marion Bailey respectively), have invited their now middle-aged children to their home to discuss power of attorney should they no longer be able to look after themselves. It’s a touching and fragile moment in any family relationship and within this family of characters, has the potential to be a truly compelling story of responsibility. Within this, Bean has woven a story of these parents potentially being taken advantage of by the people who now care for them in the absence of their children. Again, these are the ingredients for a brilliant drama on the “golden generation” and how selfish we have become as a community. Yet why does this new play lack the charged energy that would elevate this story to the next level?

The performances from the cast are brilliant, with Alun Armstrong keeping the audience hinging on his every word, just as you would listen to your own grandfather's tales. Armstrong has us in the palm of his hand when recounting his character (Jack Kirk)’s tales as an ex-police officer. His chemistry with onstage wife Florence (played by Marion Bailey) is exactly as it should be for a couple married for over seventy years. Bailey certainly holds her ground as Florence against Armstrong’s prickly Jack.

We feel perhaps that the efforts to bring this into the comedy genre, through the lens of often outdated or cliché humour, has undermined the piece somewhat. This leaves audiences split between two minds; are we watching this as a commentary on family responsibilities, or as a full comedy about a bickering married couple stuck in the past? The play struggles to wholly commit to either and left us feeling a little underwhelmed. We must also keep in mind that, regardless of a play’s intended audience, as an industry we should strive to remain inclusive and accessible. There are ways of adapting one’s goals for a piece of art that are still wary of the times we live in now, and we can always do more to improve the methods of going about this on stage.

While the material may be questionable at times, the surrounding aspects of the production are still a success. James Cotterill’s set design is a triumph of the average British home; our reviewer even remarked that the wallpaper and architecture must’ve been drawn verbatim from his hometown!

This is a show that is not for everyone. Those that it is intended for, we are sure will enjoy it but as a community, there is always more that we can do in our choices to make a production and its aims accessible to everyone, while still keeping the original intent of the piece.

*** Three stars

Reviewed by: Callum Wallace

To Have and To Hold plays at Hampstead Theatre until 25 November, with further information here.