A Story Of Human Triumph Over Tragedy

Penny Flood reviews Broken Strings at the Tabard Theatre

Broken Strings is a powerful, thought provoking two-hander about grief: how it expresses itself and how people find ways to live with its devastating aftermath. Former Corrie stars Steve Arnold and Linda Clark are David and Rose, are trying to make sense of a world turned upside down by the death of Susan: David's wife and Rose's daughter. It's a thorny mother-in-law / son-in-law situation brought about by David's promise to Susan that Rose could go on living with him how ever difficult, and God, it's difficult.

Rose resents being dependent on David and hides her emotions behind a barrage of criticisms, complaints, disapproval (of just about everything) and often downright nastiness. She's difficult to like, but Linda lets her soft side show through, deep down we realise, she's hiding a broken heart. David resents her presence and fights not to let it show as he struggles with his own problems. They run the full gamut of emotions here with heartbreak, anger, confusion, fear of the present and the future, interspersed with some tender and even funny moments.

All the action takes place in David's kitchen as the next two years unfold in a series of snapshots, keeping it interesting and moving the plot along nicely - I particularly liked the Christmas Day scene. A clever use of music helps set the mood: Dean Martin croons Little Ol' Wine Drinker Me as David tries to numb his pain with alcohol, while in a tear jerking scene he sings along with Eric Clapton's Wonderful Tonight as he holds Susan's picture. That was their wedding song and it was played at the funeral.

And so they slowly and painfully work things out in their own different ways as they both understand that it's time to move on, another tea- jerking moment.

However, good as it is, this script is something of a work on progress. Opportunities for a deeper exploration of human relationships under extreme conditions are missed, Rose's character isn't well rounded, we don't know why she's so bitter nor where the hatred of David is coming from, and some of the attempts at humour such as Rose's discussion on constipation and outside lavvies are just wrong.

But in spite of that it's a big well done to the Tabard for bringing us a fascinating piece of new writing, and it's a good way to spend 80 minutes.

Broken Strings is being performed from Tuesday - Saturday at 7:30pm and there is a matinee on the 24th.  Tickets cost £17 or £15 for concessions or £12 per ticket for groups of 8 or more.

September 10, 2016