A Missed Opportunity to Explore Growing Gulf between Rich and Poor

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Penny Flood is disappointed by Alexandra Wood's play at the Finborough

This somewhat disjointed production is made watchable by the very high standard of the acting. It’s a two hander which centres on a series of disagreements between mother Patricia (Karen Ascoe) and daughter Sofia (Ellie Turner) set at a time of financial uncertainty.

Sofia has landed a terrific job as PA to the head of a large bank, and her mother is convinced she had to sleep with her boss Antonio to get it because, we gather, the job situation is dire. So dire, in fact, that  that it comes across as a dystopian nightmare until we learn, about two thirds of the way through, that it’s set in Spain. Unfortunately, Patricia's obsession with Antonio and his money takes over.

Patricia and her husband are working people struggling to make ends meet in the wretched economic climate, a situation made worse when her husband loses his job. The gap between rich and poor is getting worse but blaming Sofia's boss for all their ills isn't going to make things better.

It could have been an interesting exploration of the culpability of the banks in the economic crisis and the subsequent effect it has had on the lives of ordinary folk in Spain, but Patricia's scattergun style of arguing loses focus and there's no real context in which to set things so it doesn't get anywhere.

The end should have been shocking, but, being totally unrealistic, it didn't work and came across as a convenient, if silly, way to bring things to an end.

Merit is at the Finborough Theatre till March 26, Tuesday to Saturday evenings at 7.30pm with matinees at 3pm on Saturdays. Book tickets online or call the box office on 0844 847 1652.

 

March 11, 2016