Christine Mackie
Best Girl Productions, HER Productions
Theatr Clwyd, Front of House Marquee, Mold
Sept 30-Oct 1, 2024; 1hr 40mins
(also HOME Manchester, Oct 29-Nov 2)
All families have secrets. Sometimes, revealing them can shake you to the core .
The premise behind Christine Mackie's play Kin is simple. After the death of Robert, two sisters-in-law meet for the first time in many years at the funeral and the sometimes dark history of the man they both loved as sister or wife is revealed. Kin is aptly described as a dark comedy. There are some great one liners but some of the themes are quite serious.
The two actors, Roberta Kerr as Kay, the wife, and Kerry Willison-Parry as Steph, the sister, develop their chemistry well, beginning quite stand-offish until Kay in particular is drawn into Steph’s story. The two characters contrast greatly, one being a tough, uncompromising, working-class business woman who built her empire perhaps at the expense of her family; the other comes from a landed gentry background and seems a frivolous wastrel in comparison. The actors draw the audience into their story well and then drop the odd bombshell really effectively.
The play is staged in the front of house marquee next door to the semi redesigned and refurbished theatre. It is quite hard to see the action, even from only a few rows back, due to the lack of rake in the seating, but the set is quite simple and the play driven by dialogue rather than action, so enjoyment is little affected.
Kin is a thoroughly captivating play, despite its occasional descent into melodrama
and, at times, barely-credible storyline. But as people say, life is often stranger than fiction. There are plenty of twists and turns before the final surprise that grip your attention and leave you with a smile on your face.
Tickets and Information here
