Photo Artshub
For two spinster sisters living a simple life on the Cornish coast, a brewing storm is an exciting punctuation in a day. But when that storm delivers a mysterious young man washed up on their shore, feelings are awakened that have long been suppressed, denied or merely dreamed of.
The Ensemble cast has done a wonderful job with Shaun McKenna’s Ladies in Lavender, an adaptation of Charles Dance’s 2005 film that turned to screen heavy-weights Judi Dench and Maggie Smith.
Sharon Flanagan as Ursula and Penny Cook as Janet are equally superbly matched. Their rapport is palpable, bathing audiences in a kind of familiar warmth and connectivity.
Like skins of an onion, their emotions are slowly peeled away, from motherly nurturing to the flush of attraction as they nurse the young violinist Andreas back to health.
Benjamin Hoetjes handles the role of Andreas with great attention to detail and joy, a talent that extends to his skills on the violin, adding to the authenticity and genuineness of this production.
His performance is balanced by Gael Ballantyne as Dorcas, the sisters’ housekeeper, which she plays to perfection. McKenna’s lines of dry humour create the structure and meter across this play, and Ballantyne wears them like an old glove.
What is amazing about this cast is their cohesiveness; no one person dominates. Actually, one could go so far as to say this is a perfectly “oiled” production – the set works, the lighting was beautifully considered and, directed by Nicole Buffoni, it is technically spot-on.
Ladies in Lavender stars Sharon Flanagan, Penny Cook and Benjamin Hoetjes. Photo: Clare Hawley
As the story develops, so too does a hint of rivalry between the sisters, but the tensions in this play are soft. The lines are laced with humour rather than bitterness or sharpness, and all has a “hot cocoa in bed” feel about it.
World War II is looming and, yet, the shadow of the Great War still hangs over the sisters; Janet’s hopes of romance were snuffed at the front. There is a hint of doubt in the good local Dr Mead, again played beautifully by Daniel Mitchell, as Andreas claims to be Polish but speaks only German.
Mitchell is also caught unawares by the beauty of youth, his affections are snared by the Russian tourist and artist Olga, played by Lisa Gormley with a natural vivacious flirtation. The play hinges on the chance meeting of Andreas and Olga, whose brother is a famous violinist. McKenna’s stage version opted for a less Hollywood ending – the sisters listen to Andreas on the wireless rather than travel to London to see him on stage.
The push and pull of age and youth, of denial and knowing, of desire and gracious acceptance, is the strength of Ladies in Lavender. The Ensemble production delivers this subtle range of emotions with realism and all heart. It is a fantastic piece of theatre.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Ladies in Lavender
Ensemble Theatre, Kirribilli
Playing 8 July to 15 August 2015
Adapted for the stage by Shaun McKenna
From a screenplay by Charles Dance
Based on a short story by William Locke
Directed by Nicole Buffoni
Cast: Gael Ballantyne, Penny Cook, Sharon Flanagan, Lisa Gormley, Benjamin Hoetjes, Daniel Mitchell
Produced by arrangement with Daniel Schumann & Lee Dean
