What is it about mothers and their sons? Is it really true that the more closely a mother attends to her duty, the worse the outcome is likely to be? Or is it just that bringing up boys in a city like London is always going to be a thankless task? Writer Levi David Addai draws the combative, playful and sometimes hurtful relationship between brothers well. But that's a secondary theme; his primary focus is on the extraordinary and complex bond that links sons to their mother, a relationship which is often seamed through with guilt, anger, love, nostalgia, regret and hope.

Agnes (Cecilia Noble) is the single mother of two young adult sons (she drove the father out years ago, according to one of them), and now having 'run the good race and fought the good fight', she is returning to her native Ghana, leaving behind her the South London house where she has brought up her family. She is leaving a legacy, although without a death, and naturally, she wants to leave everything in order. The complications are that her elder son Solomon (Ludvig Bonin) has gone off to live with his girlfriend, Davina (a feisty Sheri-An Davis) and Agnes does not approve. Her other son, the fitness-fanatic Caleb (Anwar Lynch) seems to be climbing the ladder of success, but he hasn’t told Agnes of his relationship with Michaela (Catherine Bailey), the girl in human resources who hired him into the City firm where he works. Can Agnes entice Solomon back? Would the two brothers – gently nudged perhaps into relationships with safe and successful girls – ever live in harmony? Will the legacy be the making of the two or will it spark their downfall?

The drama is presented in the round with the audience almost in Agnes's house, which gives the play an intimate atmosphere. Perhaps also it puts an extra burden on the actors who have to do their stuff in and amongst those watching - great for anyone who wants a close view of how actors work. Designer is Hannah Clark. The play runs for about 90 minutes, without an interval, and has a lot of funny as well as some poignant moments. There is a good pace about the writing too, and the changes of scene - from house to street to the chip shop where Solomon’s friend Mehmet (Adam Deacon) works – are punctuated with some carefully chosen music. House of Agnes comes across as a very competent production, but never quite gets into the sparkling category, and it's not immediately obvious why this is. It's perhaps partly because Agnes isn’t disconcerting enough to get into that really alarming league reserved for almost mythically dominant women; perhaps because punches at critical moments aren't quite delivered. But it's an enjoyable night - and one which might give mothers and their sons a lot to think about.

Cast Credits: (alpha order): Catherine Bailey – Michaela Boyd. Ludwig Bonin – Solomon Mensah. Sheri-An Davis – Davina Marshall. Adam Deacon – Mehmet Shah. Anwar Lynch – Caleb Mensah. Cecilia Noble – Agnes Ofari

Company Credits: Writer – Levi David Addai. Director – George Perrin. Designer – Hannah Clark. Design Assistant – Poppy Lozynski. Stage Manager – Jemma Gardner. Lighting Designer – Chahine Yavroyan. Sound Technician – Giles Thomas. Producer – Paines Plough in association with Oval House Theatre.

END

(c) Michael Spring 2008

reviewed Thursday 6 March 2008 / The Oval House Theatre

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2013

www.fringereport.com