Reviewed at New Vic Theatre on Tuesday 2nd October 2018
My Mother Said I Never Should is the most widely performed play ever written by a woman (Charlotte Keatley). An incredible statistic but it’s not difficult to see why. The play is an intriguing and illuminating look at four generations of women from the same family and their interactions with each other, over a 70 year period.
It also has the benefits of being produced by London Classic Theatre – an established touring company of a very high standard.
The set is cool and edgy – a clever and detailed junkyard scene that intelligently forms notable other locations.
A company of just four actors perform this play – delightfully switching through the decades. You meet each character in different stages of their life and come to understand how they have made the decisions they did. The resentment that simmers under the surface between mother and daughter is identifiable and raw. It is the perfect storm for this thought provoking series of events.
Director Michael Cabot puts it best when he says (in the programme notes) “We judge ourselves by our motives, but others by their actions”.
Endearing performances by a talented cast makes this one to watch.
London Classic Theatre have delivered another outstanding offering. A highly recommended four star.
See it in Blackpool, South Wales, Taunton, Lincoln, Chelmsford, Peterborough, Eastbourne, Malvern and York. To book tickets or to find out more, visit www.londonclassictheatre.co.uk.
