The Southbury Child at The Criterion
The Southbury Child By Stephen Beresford, on at The Criterion Theatre, Coventry, until 29 March. Directed by Helen Withers.
Review by Alison Manning.
In this dark comedy, set in a Devon coastal town, a vicar wrestles with his conscience, fighting against the demands of a bereaved community following the tragic death of a young girl, Taylor Southbury. He feels he must stick by his principles despite, or perhaps because of, having failed to on previous occasions.
The mixed local community, from the privileged members of the yacht club to those on the estate struggling on the edge of poverty are seemingly almost united against the vicar. A new curate is sent to help, but he brings his own baggage with him. The vicar's two contrasting daughters, one an actor, reluctantly back from London, the other a verger and local primary teacher, are each trying to determine their own futures, as is his long-suffering wife.
Christine Evans as Mary Highland and Bill Butler as David Highland. Photo courtesy of the Criterion.
The themes of gratitude and forgiveness are explored with a depth of complexity, showing there are no easy answers. The play does not shy away from issues in the Church of England, with same-sex marriage, abuse, grief and tradition versus modernity all being touched upon. The whole cast performed well but Bill Butler leads them with an outstanding performance as the troubled vicar David Highland who is charming and witty, convicted yet conflicted and struggling with alcoholism as he tries to hold his family, his community and his conscience together. His daughters, one of whom is adopted, are convincingly played by Kelly Davidson and Hadessa Ramjee. Pete Gillam also shines as Scottish Curate Craig.
Pete Gillam as Craig Collier and Kelly Davidson as Suzannah Highland. Photo courtesy of the Criterion.
The play is set in the busy vicarage kitchen which plays host to a succession of visitors. The set is detailed and convincing, with cooker, fridge, cleaning materials, sink, kettle, toaster on the one side, dining table and chairs in the middle and drinks cabinet and bookcase filled with suitable books and trinkets on the other. In the middle, behind (and above) the window stands the church tower, strikingly lit, and symbolising how the church is central to this coastal community and still plays a big part in its residents’ lives, regardless of their faith. The hymn-singing, prerecorded by Local Vocals Community choir, also adds to the ecclesiastical atmosphere.
The play deliberately seems to ask more questions than it offers answers, offering a glimpse into the issues potentially faced by modern vicars and the changing role of the Church of England. The playwright, Stephen Beresford, said he wrote the play for the purpose of asking the question “Who would be a vicar?”. The audience is left to make its own decisions about what is right and who has made the correct decisions. There are no black and white conclusions but many grey areas, loyalties are tested and none of the well-developed characters are without flaws. Each faces their own inner conflicts to a greater or lesser degree, often acting impulsively without thinking through the consequences of their actions and questioning their own motivations.
It is a strength of this performance and of the play that, despite dealing with complex and difficult issues, such as death, grief, conscience, truth, community and the role of the church, humour can come through. The vicar, in particular, has a tendency to dry wit and to making jokes to lighten awkward situations. This seems to be a trait shared by his daughter Naomi, who poses the classic “How many Anglicans does it take to change a lightbulb?” I won’t spoil the punchline for you- you’ll have to watch the play for that! Overall, this makes for a thought-provoking, entertaining and engaging evening.
The Southbury Child is on at the Criterion Theatre till 29 March and tickets can be obtained from: https://criteriontheatre.co.uk/
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