IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR | STAGE REVIEW
Sherman Cymru, Cardiff
Fri 27 Sept
It’s a Family Affair will make you laugh, it will also make you cringe. Throughout you will be able to congratulate yourself on getting the overly obvious, up to the minute references and constant metatheatre ‘jokes’ – if only they would “exit stage left”.
Charting the trials of a nouveau riche Russian family, Alexander Ostrovsky’s 19th Century satire has been updated by Simon Crowther. The comedy revolves around aging patriarch Bolshov (William Thomas) who stoops to false bankruptcy to clear his debts but gets swindled by his seemingly good-natured and hideously ugly head clerk (a brilliant Lee Mengo).
The performances were for the most part camp and good panto-style fun. Rachel Redford and Gareth Tempest both showed real comic potential in their theatrical debut but the repetitive script held them back.
Theatrical farce needs to be perfectly timed and executed but Family Affair just wasn’t slick enough. During an awkwardly shoehorned song – only inserted to provide some entertainment during a scene change – the funniest moment was when one of the crew unfortunately slipped and fell over.
Certainly funny but just not up to scratch. Your money would be better spent seeing two of the shows in Sherman Cymru’s excellent Theatre 2 season.
words: CHELSEY GILLARD
photo: FARROWS CREATIVE
Sherman Cymru, Cardiff, Wed 25 – Sat 12 Oct,Tickets: £15 – £22. Info: 029 2064 6900 / www.shermancymru.co.uk