Billed as a 'darkly festive comedy', this play opened with the third generation at the traditional family reunion dressed as a penguin. Then we were introduced to her mother and uncle as well as her grandmother. Rapidly, old tensions re-asserted themselves and the play progressed through two further reunions with no noticeable improvement in relationships. This was despite the pivotal Davina (mother and daughter) coming quite resolved not to re-wind old tapes with the benefit of her Buddhist karma. Yet within minutes, the old rows re-played. Mixed into this pot was Peter, with whom Davina had had a fling but who was also the object of the grandmother Maggie's (Diana Quick) affections. She was widowed at the first reunion and her libido had - she reported - come back with a vengeance.
It was an interesting play, confronting us with the possibility or otherwise of change. It also had some barbed lines at other aspects of psychology including attachment theory and the limits to attributing one's issues to one's parents.
Although amusing, it was really quite a dark play. There were moments when I did not find the acting wholly convincing, funnily enough when a row was not taking place!
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