For the first of two tickets courtesy of my Almeida Friends Gift Membership, kindly supplied at Christmas by Michael and Sara, I chose this brand new play by David Eldridge. He wrote it especially for Lisa Dillon after having a conversation with her, and when she mentioned a role "not defined by it's relationship to a man". And this script is certainly not. It is about addiction, and this time centred on a middle class family from ...... Islington.
Lucy (Lisa Dillon) has been thrown out of a promising career at the BBC when caught taking heroin. Only later we understand why she has become addicted. She is staying with her widowed mother (Margot Leicester) and visited by her cold sister (Abigail Cruttenden). Her drug habit does not get better, and the story follows her downward spiral and attempts at recovery. The writing is sharp and incisive. In fact the whole experience is intelligent and riveting. The production has received excellent reviews (pick of theatre choice in this weeks Sunday Times) and is destined for awards, for the writer and the leading actress.
The four other members of the cast are equally terrific. The solitary man, Kieran Bew, plays all the male parts, I can remember at least five. The direction by Michael Attenborough, the artistic director of the Almeida, is top drawer, and the set is one of the best I have seen. The modern steel framed glass walls that move around on the revolving stage to reveal multiple sets are just brilliant.
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