5 STARS, September 7 – October 7. An intimate portrayal of a working class marriage, delicately capturing the hopes and dreams of a whole generation, writes Jane McGowan
Helen Maybanks
The March on Russia
Simply breathtaking. I could actually leave it there, except I am required to write 400 words. So here goes… David Storey’s The March on Russia is a poignant, deeply moving, elegy to family life. While delivering what can only be described as a masterclass on how to write a domestic drama, the playwright has also provided a heart-breaking reflection on lives lived.
Mr and Mrs Pasmore are approaching their Diamond Wedding Anniversary – no big celebrations are planned but as their children arrive one by one, a drive in the country followed by a lunch at a posh hotel are hastily agreed upon as a fitting tribute to 60 years of married life. The fact that the children arrive under their own steam and have not prearranged anything for their parents is in itself telling, as is the fact that not one of the three siblings is aware of what is going on in the others’ personal lives and relies on their parents to fill them in.
As the play develops through never-ending cups of tea and fire-tending, we learn more about the Pasmores’ lives – which are surely typical of their generation. Mr Pasmore, a First World War veteran who then spent 45 years spent as a miner now suffers from myriad chest complaints. While Mrs Pasmore forgoing all hopes of a career, devoted herself to life as a wife and mother. But as the play develops, so glimpses of the pair’s past disappointments and doubts begin to materialise amid petty allegations and recriminations.
Helen Maybanks
The March on Russia
The dialogue moves from humour to tragedy in a heartbeat and the nuances of family life are all keenly observed – for example, the children all know that when things turn tricky, find a happy memory to lift the mood or talk about the war, hence the play’s title – and Storey has perfectly captured the guilt of the generation given access to education only to be alienated from those that struggled so hard to provide for them.
Yet it is the performances that leave you almost gasping for breath at their brilliance. Ian Gelder as Mr Pasmore is outstanding – at times wistful, playful, cantankerous and ultimately despairing, his performance should not be missed. His wife is deftly played by Sue Wallace who captures all the pride and resentment of a woman who has spent her whole life caring for people and has nothing left to give. The three adult offspring all work well, balancing past indignities with promises of being better children in the future – just before they hastily head back to their lives.
The March on Russia is definitely in my top three plays of the year, and I would really, really urge you to go and see it!
- The March on Russia is at the Orange Tree Theatre until October 7. For more details and tickets, visit: orangetreetheatre.co.uk
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