Learning how to Dive
The Lantern Theatre, Brighton
This tender new play by Brendan Murray is presented by Damn Cheek Productions whose strap-line is ‘Theatre to Provoke, Entertain and Inspire’. There can be no doubt this stunning production achieves all three.
The story which explores bereavement, sexuality, and the dramatic effect of long-held secrets opens in Terry’s modest flat with a monotonous clock ticking and the elderly Terry himself, wearing pyjamas, a zip-up cardigan together with socks and sandals, self-medicating and checking his mobile phone when the doorbell suddenly rings. The younger Matt enters and it is unclear as to whether these two men actually know each other. What is clear is that someone has recently died and Matt is delivering a letter to Terry from his recently deceased father who unbeknown to Matt, was Terry’s lover for 35 years.
The second half of the play is cleverly set a week earlier, just after the funeral where we once again meet Matt this time with his widowed mother, Jill who has started to sort through some of her late husband’s belongings. She has long-suspected Barry of having an affair but it is only when she discovers the letter delivered in Act One by her son, together with some photos that she fully understands the nature of Barry’s infidelity.
Sensitively directed by Willie Elliot, the production boasts three terrific performances. Darren Cheek is excellent as Matt who is struggling to deal with his father’s hidden sexuality alongside his betrayal of himself, his mother and his brother, Chris. Brendan Murray as Terry who has recently suffered a stroke, is simply marvellous. The dialogue is peppered with several memorable and very funny lines – “Old age. Sort of creeps up on you. You tell yourself you’re not doing so bad then you look in the mirror one day and think, bloody hell, who’s that? When did that happen?”
There are also some lovely poignant moments. Matt asks Terry if he will miss Barry to which Terry replies, “ I’ve been missing him for thirty-odd years.” – a reference to the fact that over 35 years they probably only spent a few weeks together including only one weekend away as a couple in Frinton.
Cheek and Murray are not afraid to pause and give the play a chance to breathe in a Pinteresque way and both Harold Pinter and David Storey seem relevant to mention when discussing the style of the writing – high praise indeed! Karen Spicer completes the cast as Jill. Act 2 is almost a monologue which Spicer delivers beautifully, subtle and powerful as a result.
Every now and then as a reviewer you stumble upon theatre of pure class and this production is of the highest calibre.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Reviewer: Patric Kearns