Contact 

4⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Written by Jonny Donahoe

Directed by Ben Standish 

Blythe Duff and Mark Barrett play Mother and Son, the only names given to the characters in this wonderful play.

Son arrives in Mother’s back garden after months of not seeing her. She is burning documents and other paperwork in a bonfire.

Son is there to tell his mother he is having a child with his wife Alice known as Malice by Mother. 

We find out both mother and Son have been in therapy, Mother has resented Son since he was six years old, believing having a child has limited her career plans. 

Son has hoped his news of a baby may bring them together, if it doesn’t, he has decided they must cut all contact forever.

Jonny Donahoe has written two strong characters who volley insults at each other like a game of tennis, never allowing them to lose their tempers which would result in shouting. They calmly hold their nerve throughout their interactions the script slowly drips the full extent of their fall out. 

This exposes a violent and abusive relationship with Mothers husband, son’s father. 

This is revealed during their weekly meetings, Blythe Duff and Mark Barrett expertly play the Mother and Son who can never forgive each other. 

Ben Standish stylishly directs this two-hander never allowing them to be still, he has set it in the garden with no props, other than the bonfire burning in a bin.

When they mention sitting and drinking wine it’s  not mimed it’s only mentioned, making the contact between them no less than arm’s length.  

There is one final scene set in the past when Son was a schoolboy, where everything is played with props. It's set in the household kitchen he grew up in. This is the only time realism is used along with contact making it all the more poignant. 

During the play the one line that stuck with me was from the mother saying I’m not the monster, I’m just the failure. 

This line sums up their relationship, and all the hurt that went before.

Will the birth of the baby help them reconcile? Well that will be revealed when it’s next performed. 

I will say many people left the venue with tears in their eyes.