In this Octagon Theatre Bolton and Liverpool & Everyman Playhouse co-production, Shelagh Stephenson’s The Memory of Water has been revived wonderfully in a crowd-pleasing, touching production. This 30th anniversary revival, directed by Lotte Wakeham, delivers an evening of hilarious and deeply moving entertainment for audiences.
Following three sisters on the eve of their mum’s funeral in the winter of 1996, the women reunite in their Northern childhood home after years apart. Mary, Teresa and Catherine sort through their mother’s belongings as old memories begin to resurface, resulting in confusion and hilarity as their memories do not quite match up. The whisky flows, and their complicated relationships with the world and each other are examined, all in the middle of a snow storm and with the impending funeral looming over them.
Katie Scott’s set design sets the stage for the chaos of the show. The incredibly detailed set of the late mother’s bedroom is crammed full with mementos and clothing that the sisters use to reminisce. The attention to detail is superb, from the snow storm being visible through the window, to the underneath of the bed being full of suitcases and forgotten packages. Additionally, the floorboards jutting out from each side of the stage give the effect that the room has been ripped out of a house, putting the audience directly into that isolated space with the characters.
Polly Lister’s bold performance as Mary was a stand out as she portrayed cynicism, despair and frustration. Her chemistry with the rest of the cast kept the energy high and the ensemble as a whole flowed smoothly between comedic moments and more poignant, emotional scenes. One powerful highlight was Frank’s arrival (played by Reginald Edwards), as we see the chaos between the sisters erupt as he emerges from the storm. This scene showed the history that the sisters share, explored through the memories from their mother’s dresses, and their mutual understanding of each other.
The dynamic between the sisters is instantly relatable, and is enhanced by the characters of Frank and Mike (Charlie De Melo). Whilst Mary (Polly Lister), Teresa (Victoria Brazier) and Catherine (Helen Flanagan) fight amongst themselves and seem to constantly be bickering, having Frank and Mike as outsiders allows the audience to see the truly inseparable bond of sisterhood between the women. Finding moments of laughter when trying on their mother’s clothes and sharing whisky demonstrates the playful familiarity between the sisters, in a time when people would be expected to be somber.
The play is haunted by Vicky Binns’ portrayal of Vi, the mother whom the plot focuses on. Vi’s interactions with her daughter Mary beautifully explore the struggles between ambitious daughters and the mothers that strive to provide for them. Emphasised with the change of lighting state and Binns’ fluid movement across the performance space, the dream/ haunting scenes are an interesting insight into Mary’s grief, and elevate the plot by showing how deeply their mother affected the sister’s lives.
This production is entertaining, thought-provoking and a lot of fun, so should not be missed in its run at the Everyman Theatre until the 14th of March. Tickets are available via everymanplayhouse.com.