ed and kyra 

Ben Armitage as Edward Sergeant and Katherine Parker-Jones as Kyra Hollis

Skylight

Aspect Theatre

The Swan Theatre, Worcester

*****

David Hare’s Skylight is the sort of intimate play that is ideally suited to the Vesta Tilley Studio at The Swan Theatre in Worcester. With a cast of three and a single domestic set, the flat of Kyra, a teacher in a rough inner city school in North London, the play confronts the audience very closely with the intensity of passionate relationships.

Kyra previously fell in love and into an adulterous relationship with Tom, a businessman who has become highly successful and wealthy in the restaurant and catering industry. The relationship lasted six years and ended abruptly when Tom’s wife became aware of the affair; Kyra left immediately. Tom and his wife, Alice, who has died before the play opens, had a son, Edward, who arrives in Kyra’s flat at the beginning and end of the play.

The play however focuses intensely on the relationship between Tom and Kyra, their present feelings for each other, the reasons why they parted and the reasons why they remain both connected and yet incompatible.

In the exploration of this relationship we are faced with the inner hurt, anger, guilt and sadness of each, but supremely on the clash of values between the protagonists. The psychological portrayal of each one and the social values and motivations are skilfully addressed by David Hare.

kyra and tom 

Katherine Parker-Jones as Kyra Hollis and John Lines as Tom Sergeant

The acting of the cast and the direction of this production is of a very high standard. It requires such standards for a small cast to grip the attention of the audience for a long theatrical piece. Katherine Parker-Jones (Kyra) is an extremely believable Kyra, motivated by a desire to help those children who start out in life with great disadvantages. Her range of emotional expression is excellent and natural

John Lines (Tom) is likewise convincing as the driven entrepreneur, desperately lonely in his success and insensitivity, still escaping his limited background. His anger surfaces powerfully at various points in the play as well as his regrets.

Ben Armitage completes the cast – his portrayal of Tom’s 18 year old son Edward is effective and adds a certain lightness and charm at the end of the play.

All three speak well and reflect the skilful direction of Marc Dugmore in the variety of pace, volume, pitch and dramatic intensity. The play explores important themes: trust, education, deprivation, guilt and forgiveness, politicians, art, the nature of business, spirituality, dealing with the past…. This is an excellent, if rather depressing, experience and reflection of modern angst. It is superb theatre and runs until Saturday 16-04-22

Tim Crow

12-04-22  

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