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The York Realist, ImpAct Theatre, Lytchett Matravers Village Hall

PETER Gill’s play is set in a Yorkshire farm labourer’s cottage in the early 1960s and has as its background a production of the York Mystery Plays. Although I had never previously seen the play I was aware of the storyline, but I was totally unprepared for the depth into which it delves as it explores the ties that bind us to the lives we lead, and how difficult those ties may be to break.

As has become the norm with ImpAct’s productions, skilled direction from Patricia Richardson ensures that the performers absolutely become the characters they are portraying, and the many tears they shed are for real. Great accents, too.

Justin Sellick has, to my mind, never been better than as George, trapped in a life from which he cannot escape and showing genuine anguish at his predicament, and Stephanie Fereday excels as his ailing mother, as does Beverley Beck as friend Doreen. There are outstanding performances too from Greig Blanden (John), Cathy Feiner (Barbara) and Chaz Davenport (Arthur), while newcomer Jamie Wells (Jack) is clearly an actor to his fingertips.

And had I been bored, which I most assuredly was not, the wonderfully detailed set would have been worth watching on its own.

The play is touring the area – catch it if you can.

Linda Kirkman

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