The Daughter-in-Law
Arcola Theatre
Reviewed β 15th January 2019
β β β β β
βMatthew Biddulph as Joe Gascoyne gave the most natural performance and almost always felt like he could have ended each sentence with a cheeky winkβ
The Daughter-in-Law is back at the Arcola now occupying Studio 1, after a month in the smaller Studio 2 during the summer of 2018. It is one of D H Lawrenceβs eight plays completed during his lifetime, although heβs more famously known for his poetry and novels. Jack Gambleβs revival some fifty-odd years since its first staging at The Royal Court in 1967 proves the central themes of marriage and family, set amongst Nottinghamshireβs mining community, are still relatable today.
Lawrence introduces us to the Gascoyne family. We have the matriarch and her two youngest sons, Luther and Joe, Lutherβs wife of six weeks, the eponymous Daughter-in-Law, Minnie, and neighbour Mrs Purdy. These are the types of people Lawrence would have known well, having grown up in the mining community of Easton himself in the late 1800s. A thick Derbyshire accent (dialect coach Penny Dyer) is in full use throughout the play, which does take some getting used to, especially for southern London types. However, it does also make for great comedic moments, particularly Mrs Gascoyneβs use of colloquialisms to the young women in her sonsβ lives.
Although complications to Luther and Minnieβs marriage are revealed very early on, itβs actually the relationship between the mother and her family members which draws the most scrutiny at the climax of the play with Minnie asking βhow is a woman to have a husband if all the men belong to their mothers?β Itβs an insightful statement delivered to sympathetic laughter, but at least one of the conclusions Minnie draws from this, that she would rather have a husband who knocks her about than one who canβt really love her, I cringed to hear.
Ellie Nunn and Matthew Barker as Minnie and Luther each show their force in the relationship in contrasting ways, Nunn verbally but Barker physically. Matthew Biddulph as Joe Gascoyne gave the most natural performance and almost always felt like he could have ended each sentence with a cheeky wink.
Each of the four acts are set in the dining room of either Mrs or Minnie Gascoyneβs homes. Louie Whitemoreβs set is therefore unflashy but authentic viewed in the round. The lighting and sound also subtly, but cleverly work with the set to situate the play in both time and location. Geoff Hense complements lit candles on stage with warm orange glows. Dinah Mullenβs sound is most notable when recreating the sounds of the mine shafts in one tense moment.
This production at Arcola Theatre offers another chance to see this worthy revival, a gentle reminder that the plight of the miners did not start or end with Margaret Thatcher, and an honest acknowledgement that marriage is rarely a simple fairy tale.
Reviewed by Amber Woodward
Photography by Idil Sukan
The Daughter-in-Law
Arcola Theatre until 2nd February
Last ten shows reviewed at this venue:
Fine & Dandy | β β β β β | February 2018
The Daughter-in-Law | β β β β | May 2018
The Parade | β β β | May 2018
The Secret Lives of Baba Segiβs Wives | β β β β β | June 2018
The Rape of Lucretia | β β β β | July 2018
Elephant Steps | β β β β | August 2018
Greek | β β β β | August 2018
Forgotten | β β β | October 2018
Mrs Dalloway | β β β β | October 2018
A Hero of our Time | β β β β β | November 2018
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