
Reviewed by Lisa Cook
Last night, I had the pleasure to take a friend to the Studio Theatre, which is based inside the Crucible in Sheffield. We saw the play ‘My Mother Said I Never Should’ directed by the talented Jeni Draper. If you haven’t seen it yet, its currently running there until 23rd November.
My friend and I both wondered how Fingersmiths would portray a familiar text of four generations of women. These women are all from the same family and are deaf. Would the play be able to portray the difficulties and experiences these women had growing up in the 20th century? The tale begins with mother and daughter, and the importance of piano practice. The daughter becomes a mother herself, but with different values and goals and of course expectations for her own daughter and granddaughter.
The cast itself is incredibly small consisting of four members (made up of d/Deaf and hearing actors) on stage and a further voice. In terms of characters, the eldest member of the family is Doris, very strait laced with old fashioned values. This part is played by the talented Ali Briggs who you may recognise from Coronation Street. Her daughter is the very serious Margaret (Amazing Jude Mahon) who vows to move to London and be nothing like her mum. The 3rd generation is the risk taking, artistic Jackie (wonderful EJ Raymond) and not forgetting her voice by Genevieve Barr. The 4th generation is the happy go lucky Rosie (Lisa Kelly).
Right from the start you can see how the characters are so very different, as time and attitudes have changed over the years. The cast themselves should be proud of this performance and how they have brought these characters to life. The stage itself is very simple containing a portion of a kitchen along with a small table and a ramp. Yet, the talented actors can portray details incredibly well.
The opening act starts by introducing the serious yet rebellious Margaret. From the beginning, her character is excellently depicted from the pouting 8-year-old, hiding under a table during a bomb raid to a rebellious young woman determined to move to London and be nothing like her mother, i.e. not a housewife or in fact a mother. Finally, she becomes a very serious woman in the second act who is too busy with her job and commitments to have much time for her own mother. Doris is the 1st generation, a typical 1940’s housewife, content with being a housewife and mother. However, as she gets older her character softens and she becomes more playful. It’s certainly a far cry from the playful excited young women we see at the end of the play, who gave up her career to marry a man. Perhaps this shows the impact that raising a family has?
In contrast, Jackie’s character is more fun loving and care-free, a wild child of the 70’s. Raymond really gets the part of Jackie and demonstrates how she grows up into a more loving, family orientated person, who is independent and certainly doesn’t need a man. Rosie doesn’t have as long to develop as a character due to her age, but a fantastic debut performance.
This is a great show, with incredibly talented actors and people backstage. The play itself by Charlotte Keatley made its debut in 1987 and won many awards, this version in association with Fingersmiths, I feel should as well.
Be warned, this is a long play (around 2 hours and 45 minutes, including a 15 minute interval), but I never once realised how the time flies when you are enjoying a show. Congratulations to all involved.
Would I recommend this show? Definitely
Rating: 4/5
Tickets cost from £20 (booking fees may apply).
My Mother Said I Never Should is at the Studio Theatre in Sheffield from 8-23 November 2019, for more information or to book tickets visit www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk or call the box office on 0114 249 6000.
Crucible Theatre, 55 Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 1DA | 0114 249 6000
