Marianne. Wimbledon Studio. 15 May 2010.

This play about a couple who lose their only child may not sound like a good way to spend an evening. However, the play is both funny, meaningful and painfull in it’s truthfullness.

When Marianne dies in a freak accident, Cath and David lose a daughter. Allie loses a best friend and Ash gains a heart. They all deal with their grief in different ways. Cath ( Played by Lynn Howes. Who gives a stunning performance ) looks for some kind of meaning in the pointlessness of her daughters death. She longs to understand death and have some kind of closure. Taking her to London and the boy ( Ash. Played by Simon-Anthony Rhoden. ) who received her daughters heart. The clash in culture and in greif – in both life and death – is well written and really makes you think.

David is stoic. Trying to move on, tending to his flowers. All the while dealing with his wife’s, more obvious grief. She uses him as an emotional punching bag. He loves her so he doesn’t mind. David is played by Leighton Pugh. All the cast are amazing. The top of their field.

Allie, ( Natasha Campbell. ) who was Marianne’s best friend is a rebellious teenager who things she is grown up. She visits the couple to try and re-connect with her best friend. She feels they are the only people she can talk to. She is falling in love for the first time and everything is a big deal. Across generations, bonds are made and the healing begins.

The play is beautiful and poignant. The kind of play that makes you think and, more importantly, feel. Cath cannot come to terms with the death of her daughter. She is stuck in a limbo. Thinking her husband has healed while he dies inside. In the end, with help from Allie and Ash they both learn and move on. Their marriage is saved. Life begins again.

This play was written by Anna Jordan. I would keep an eye on her. She is definitely going places.

Leighton PuLeighton Puggh, Lynn Howes, Natasha Campbell and Simon-Anthony Rhoden