Review: TWOPENCE TO CROSS THE MERSEY, Lichfield Garrick - Tour
Photo credit: Anthony Robling
Set in 1930’s Liverpool in the midst of the Great Depression, Twopence to Cross the Mersey is adapted for the stage by Rob Fennah from the million-selling book by Helen Forrester.
When Helen’s father (Mark Moraghan) is declared bankrupt, the family are forced to leave behind their beautiful middle-class home in the Southwest of England along with its nannies and servants, and with nothing but the clothes they are dressed in, they travel to Liverpool hoping to rebuild their lives.
Only it’s a bit of a struggle to find a home for a family of nine with little money and no guarantee of an income.
The set design and lighting complement the outstanding performances by a great cast and the depleting costumes as the family falls further and further into poverty.
Jenny Murphy plays Helen, the young girl who is the storyteller of her family’s downfall. She is desperate to return to school after her parents decide she is to remain at home to look after the other children whilst they look for work. She seems to be the one that takes on the family’s burdens; her coat is the first to be pawned to raise money for the family to buy food and for her Mother to get cigarettes. Even after her Mother’s health returns, she is still expected to do all the work around the house.
Having lost all hope, Helen meets an old Gentleman (Daniel Taylor) who encourages her to follow her dreams and she attempts to go back to school, but her parents have other ideas for their ‘selfish’ daughter.
Lynn Francis as Helen’s Mother is frustratingly superb as the antagonistic parent who would rather see her family starve then sell a painting that reminds her of her childhood. Refusing to accept that her lavish lifestyle is the main reason that they are all in this situation to begin with, blaming everyone else around her.
The cast of nine take on various roles, each with defining characteristics and faultless accents, bringing the humour, bigoted opinions and descriptions of situations to life.
It’s a beautiful, courageous story that has you hooked from the start and fighting for Helen’s future.
A must see from us, Besties!
***** Five stars
Reviewed by: Rachel Louise Martin
Twopence to Cross the Mersey continues to tour until November 2022, with tickets available here.