For their latest production, East Bridgford Drama Group bring Shelagh Stephenson’s bitter-sweet comedy “The Memory of Water” to the stage, under the direction of Len Jackson. The 90s-set play follows three sisters who get together the night before their mother’s funeral. Whilst the premise sounds a little serious and potentially depressing, rest assured that this production includes many laugh-out-loud moments, interspersed with some truly moving scenes and interesting discussion around life, death and everything in between.
The three sisters are all incredibly different yet likeable characters, and the dynamic between the three actors is very fun to watch. Mary (Karen Peckover) is a career-driven woman, and it is through her character that we begin to explore the idea of true and false memories – whether we remember things accurately or whether our memories are shaped by our feelings towards certain events. This idea is exacerbated by youngest sister Catherine (Rebecca Cresswell), who has many negative memories about her childhood that her family continually reassure her are incorrect. It makes for some interesting discussion, and gives the audience plenty to think about on their way home.
Teresa (Caroline Aldrich) is far more family-oriented than her sisters, and feels as though she bore the brunt of caring responsibilities for their mother during her struggles with Alzheimer’s. Teresa gives us a little insight into the realities of caring for someone with this illness, but it is never really a focus of the play, and is only briefly touched on throughout. The play spends a lot more time focusing on the relationship between the three sisters, who are all played perfectly, their clashing personalities truly shining through. Our first impressions of the three are shattered later in the play, as various secrets are revealed, and we dig deeper into the backstories of each character. All three are played incredibly naturally, which makes this production such a joy.
The differences between the characters, which are apparent from the offset, is where most of the comedy erupts from. The quick put-downs and harmless name-calling that is traded between the three will resonate with anyone in the audience who has a sibling, whilst a very funny scene towards the end of act one, which sees the sisters sorting through their mother’s wardrobe, shows just how much the three care for each other, despite the bickering. As the three sisters try on various outfits and fall about laughing, the audience can’t help but laugh along with them, and this moment stands out as a highlight of the play.
Along for the ride are Catherine’s husband Frank (Mark Aldrich) and Mary’s boyfriend Mike (Hazi Mistry). Of the two, Mike has the more interesting storyline, as he is having an extra-marital affair with Mary, revealing that he is reluctant to leave his wife because she is ill. It is this aspect that drives the plot forward, and further revelations later on only serve to complicate matters. The storyline does not receive a proper conclusion, but the journey that the characters go on during the two-and-a-half hours that we spend with them is more than satisfying. As for Frank, the character does often feel a little superfluous to events, but enjoys a few comical anecdotes, and Aldrich’s delivery of the line “Are we set?” as the hearse pulls up outside hits the perfect note.
Julz Dawson’s set design is a marvel, filled with extra details that makes Violet’s bedroom feel properly lived in, although some of the decor may appear a little too modern for the 90s setting. The deceased Violet (Diana Jackson) makes a ghostly appearance to share a few conversations with her daughter Mary, and these scenes are signified by a change in lighting, which is perhaps a little on the nose but helps to get the idea across.
The show is truly driven by its characters, and it is testament to the actors’ abilities that the play never drags or outstays its welcome, despite the fairly slow-moving plot. A scene in the second act, which sees Teresa steadily get more and more drunk, becomes a little exhausting to watch, although this is a fault of the script – Aldrich’s inebriated performance is remarkable, something that can be hard to sustain for such a lengthy scene in less capable hands.
Overall, this was a highly enjoyable afternoon of theatre. This was my first time visiting the East Bridgford Drama Group and I highly doubt it will be my last. As well as an excellent performance, the group have a very friendly front of house team (led by Ashley Hopkins) who even brought tea and biscuits to our seats at the interval! Sadly, this run of “The Memory of Water” has now come to an end (I saw the last performance on Saturday afternoon), but I would highly recommend you keep your eyes on their website for news of their next production. I am sure it will not disappoint!
Tom Morley, March 2025
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