An evening of absurdist domesticity is explored in The Children, which is as humorous as it is sobering.
While the semi-apocalyptic setting strays from the ordinary, the tale which unfolds in the homely kitchen of Hazel and Robin is at its heart a touching look at the intricacies of being human.
Lucy Kirkwood’s play, on stage at Nottingham Playhouse until April 6, turns the audience into a veritable fly on the wall as three friends around a simple wooden kitchen table explore ideas of duty, family and getting old.
What at first glance appears to be a quaint cottage and an idyllic retirement is quickly unravelled by the sudden arrival of old friend Rose.
Would she like a cup of tea? Well it will have to be from a flask — electricity is rationed, the tap water isn’t drinkable and a Geiger counter is among the decor, for the pair of ex-physicists live on the edge of an exclusion zone after a nuclear disaster.
Rose’s shocking proposal shakes the already-degrading foundations of her friends very existence and forces them to consider how their life choices have impacted each other and those around them.
With the clock ticking on their lives, the crumbling coastline which they call home, and the impending doom of an unstable nuclear power station, they must confront their morality and make what may be the toughest decision of their lives.
Clive Mantle (Robin), Caroline Harker (Hazel) and Sally Dexter (Rose) ooze such naturalism in their roles that it truly feels like a look behind closed doors at a real family and friends.
They wonderfully portray real, well-rounded people who you cannot help but love and hate in equal amounts.
Rose is horrifically irritating at times and cannot catch a hint — yet is willing a ready to sacrifice what little is left of her time on earth to allow younger scientists to love longer.
Hazel is too perfect, litter-picks, puts suncream on everyday and does yoga in the evenings, but is quick to anger and has a selfish streak a mile wide, while Robin is warm and friendly but a shameless adulterer, and willingly lies to his wife.
Despite the somewhat bleak themes, The Children is also laugh-out-loud funny.
It is heartwarming to see the way lives intertwine and the way we are all linked by the small things in life — a joke about stain remover and impromptu reminder of a dance routine from their old days of partying bring similes the audiences’ faces.
After a shocking finale — for which kudos must go to the incredible lighting crew — there was thunderous applause which was more than deserved.
