Review: Natural Affection at the Jermyn Street Theatre

Natural Affection
Jermyn Street Theatre

Reviewed on Saturday 26th July 2014

★★

"The world looks awful ugly at times..."

Based on a newspaper story about a senseless killing, Natural Affection sees troubled child Donnie (Louis Cardona) return from reform school to live with his mother Sue (Lysette Anthony) and her new boyfriend Bernie (Timothy Knightley). Donnie, who has spent most of his life in an orphanage, has an unnatural love of his mother, but her rejection leads to the play's tragic conclusion.

When Natural Affection opened on Broadway in 1963, it lasted just 36 performances, owing to a lack of publicity because of a newspaper strike. However, it could also be because it's just not a particularly interesting play in which nothing really happens.

Grace Wessels' version starts off slowly and continues at a sort of monotone until Donnie arrives home with a friend from the past. The friend is tempting him with 'jobs' that involve drugs, murder and sex - suddenly the audience wake up, no doubt this friend will be Donnie's downfall, turning him away from the right path and plonking him straight back in reform school. No such luck - his friend then disappears from the play, taking all hints of drama with him.

Even the death at the end of the play is far too predictable (a knife appears on the kitchen table for no apparent reason) and dull. As the victim lays dying (presumably) the lights dim and the play ends, almost without warning. Previous events are left unresolved and the audience are left to make up their own mind about what happens to all the characters.

Acting is average, with a few accent slips here and there, overacting from some and monotonous delivery from others. Cardona is almost too sweet (and attractive) as Donnie, considering he's had a pretty rough life; his single outburst of rage in Act I is almost an afterthought so that the murder in Act II is more believable.

However, his chemistry with Lysette Anthony is lovely, although the closeness doesn't seem unnatural until Act II when he kisses her and she finally shows some personality by hurling abuse at him. The few dramatic scenes aren't quite passionate enough, although Timothy Knightley does manage to inject some emotion into his outbursts, and is perhaps the strongest performer in this piece.

The concept behind this play might be sinister, but it is a good one and sadly this disjointed production doesn't do it justice. The cast lack enthusiasm and the dark, gritty side to William Inge's story is lost.

With a rethink on the direction, improvements to the performances and fewer gaps between scenes, the production would improve; but ultimately it is the story itself that lets Natural Affection down.

Reviewed by Michaela Clement-Hayes

Natural Affection runs at the Jermyn Street Theatre until Saturday 9th August 2014.
Please visit www.jermynstreettheatre.co.uk for further information and tickets.

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