Heart Wall Review – Sadness Knocks Family Karaoke Reunion Off Key | stage

YYou can hear this play before entering the hall. Inside, the karaoke session is in full force as the crowd sings Friday night pub bangers on stage. The singing resumes when Kit Withington’s family drama begins, with karaoke serving as the glue that holds the emotionally opposing characters together.

Many of them are at odds with themselves as well, including Frankie (Rowan Robinson), who visits her parents’ home in a northwestern town in the opening scene. She now lives her life in London, with a boyfriend and a job that proves she’s moving forward. This city hasn’t done the same and neither have its parents since the tragedy that occurred more than two decades ago. Her father, Des (Decca Walmsley), is behaving strangely and seems to still be mired in grief and guilt, while her mother, Linda (Sophie Stanton), is looking for happiness elsewhere.

The focus of the story is unprocessed grief but other things come up, including the mystery surrounding Frankie’s sister, which never seems to be adequately resolved in the end despite a final confession scene between father and daughter. The rift between her parents is also not explored, as is Dez’s health – is his behavior due to grief or a medical condition? Frankie’s girlfriend Charlene (Olivia Forrest) and bar manager Valentine (Aaron Anthony) remain mysterious public figures.

Under the direction of Katie Greenall, there are some deeply felt moments of emotional revelation and stillness but the pacing is uneven, sluggish despite the very focused story. The text jumps into moments of intensity and then suddenly jumps out again. But Hazel Low’s gorgeous bar set design is a beautiful replica of the real thing, and the karaoke frame brings warmth and musical energy.

Ultimately, the heart wall bites off more than it can chew in less than two hours, with no intervals. With more space, and perhaps more karaoke, this play could do justice to the drama at its big, aching heart.