Weird Women
Crystal Blear
Weird Women
by Genni Trickett
Teddington Theatre Club, at the Coward Studio, Hampton Hill Theatre until 1st February
Review by Gill Martin
When Cat Lamin went down to Exeter to see the premiere of Weird Women, she expected to see a simple family drama. But she came back sobbing … and knowing that she must direct its London première.
The setting couldn’t be more reassuringly normal, cosy sitting room full of comfy cushions and crochet, a scene of domestic calm, with net curtains and a Welsh dresser crammed with family photographs. Wellington boots line up by a coat stand festooned with sensible tweed, a cloth cap and plastic rain hat favoured by older ladies protecting their perms.
But look carefully at Trine Taraldsvik’s interpretive design and you’ll spot dreamcatchers, corn dollies and crystal balls. Scattered on the floor are books on tarot and psychic ability. Are these clues to the drama about to unfold in the old Lancashire home of three sisters who reunite for their mother’s funeral? How can homely turn into horror?
The women, in their fifties, have all chosen different paths in life. The oldest, Lilian (Isabelle Crean), is a God-fearing country vicar’s wife; middle sister Barbie (Anthea Barter) wears long green velvet and a tiara, and dabbles in more alternative beliefs; youngest is single mum Diana (Claire Morrissey), who has escaped to London with her two daughters. United in grief but divided in ambition and character the sisters also have a dark secret that binds them together.
Family tensions bubble to the surface after the wake for their 85 year old mother Dot, whose Christian funeral has just been conducted by Lilian’s overbearing bible-bashing husband Eddie (Michael Andrew). The calves-foot jelly stands wobbling in the kitchen along with leftover parkin ginger cake as they await the arrival of Lilian’s son Zack (Jasper Loxton), braving a Lancashire lightning storm after a flight from his Hong Kong home.
Excellent casting also includes Diana’s two daughters, the rumbustious blonde Cassie (September Taliana-Carey) who exalts in shellac nail polish, bold tattoos and bargain Prada shoes and her elder quiet-as-a-dormouse sister Morgan (Jenny Doran), who will surprise us all.
Director Cat Lamin ensures fear, menace and tension are ratcheted up in this atmospheric production. Tricksy special effects had us gripping our seats, while sickening violence brought gasps from the audience.
What a tremendous build-up to the explosive conclusion!
Gill Martin, January 2025
Photography by Sarah J Carter
Mark Aspen 