Arthur Dolan, played by Sidney Kean, sits in his armchair flanked by Elizabeth Taylor and Ava Gardner, his two oxygen tanks. Reveling in his position as patriarch in the world he has created, and to reach 100 firmly in his mind, it is clear that nothing and no one will stand in Arthur’s way.
Arthur’s grandson, Danny Boy, played by Francis Saunders, returns from Spain to visit him, and a web of dark family secrets becomes increasingly entangled. Arthur is the only God on the estate, and he has no time for any other; his vengeance is swiftly dealt.
Written by Dean Stalham, the narrative twists and turns as the characters try to avoid the blows dealt out to them. Moments of dark humour add further complexity and realism to the play. The script is fast-paced and captivating, and Jonathan Linsley directs a cast that makes this an emotionally gripping and riveting production. Arthur is skillfully portrayed. Kean shows Arthur as pitiable and then abhorrent, gradually revealing an increasingly corrupt and manipulative figure whose ruthlessness has poisoned the estate and his family. Saunders expertly plays the unfortunate grandson, Danny Boy. His presence arouses both sympathy and frustration as he struggles to face the truths he has left behind. Lisa Harmer, playing Caroline, is frail and ghost-like, and her presence haunts both the characters and audience. Jud Charlton as Daisy Boy superbly captures the essence of a man on the edge, fiercely loyal and a victim of circumstance.
The play is a rare offering; Stalham gives audiences an expertly crafted script and characters. Jonathan Linsley's direction cements a production.
It is a modern Shakespearean tragedy, although Providence is never to blame. God Don't Live on a Council Estate Francis Saunders Lisa Harmer
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