“Take those pills and sleep tonight. In the morning – go on living.” Words of wisdom that will stay in my mind for a lifetime.

 

Etta James’s song 'Stormy Weather' perfectly sets the tone of this piece. It is a bold opening that is continued as a bold repeated motif throughout that snaps us right back to the shock of the opening scene. It’s not often you come across a narrative that begins with a suicide attempt. That you then wait, with bated breath, to discover if it will close with another one. You dare not hope, but try to understand as we peer through this window into Hester’s (Tamsin Greig) despair. 

Greig portrays this complex cocktail of emotions with care and composure. We feel Hester’s pain, shame and passions through her performance. From her initial silent suicide, to her interactions with her estranged yet concerned husband (Nicholas Farrell), to her passionate lovers embrace with her Mr Page (Hadley Fraser). 

Hadley Fraser’s Freddie Page is reminiscent of every charming, yet cheeky, chap of the 1940s.  Freddie, my love with a dash of Flashheart; he’s even a pilot! This gives us some insight into what drew Hester to him, and what about him has aided the toxic nature of their relationship. 

Nicholas Farrell’s Sir William (Hester's husband) is the complete opposite. A judge of means that stands out in Hester and Freddie’s damp ridden love nest; yet to grant her a divorce and still pining after the woman he wanted her to be. We gain some insight into what drew Hester, the preacher’s daughter, to him and we can only assume what pushed her away. Farrell performs his role dutifully, with no surprises; heartbroken and willing to take her back but with no understanding of his wife’s actual needs. 

The poignant yet understated and often sarcastic presence of Finbar Lynch’s Mr Miller perfectly balances the wild emotions of the rest of characters. Lynch captures the tragic past and comedic yet concerned energy of the character perfectly. He is a man of his experiences. 

This devastatingly well done production is filled with many acute yet universal experiences, that too many of us identify with. Yet it leaves the audience with more questions than answers. And more emotions than words. 

I can only hope we all have a Mr. Miller in our time of need. A friend, a confidant and someone who has been through stormy weather themselves and is still caring enough to pull a stranger through it as well. 

This production is at Theatre Royal Haymarket until 21st June 2025. You can book tickets here.

Review by Yasmin