Just Remember Two Things - The Stage Monday October 4th, 2004

Warm, funny yet with moments of immense poignancy Terence Frisby’s engaging story has the ability to evoke powerful memories. Adapting his award-winning radio play for the stage, music, both original and from the war-time era interlinks and binds scenes. Premiered in North Devon, it is played out as a professionally directed and led community play.

Setting the WW2 scene with fine attention to detail, director Jeremy James Taylor keeps the action flowing. Bewildered children, clutching suitcases and gas-masks are herded onto trains. Arriving at West Country destinations to be picked out like cattle, they encounter unfamiliar country life and dialect, prejudice and bigotry, the antipathy of local children, yet also great kindness. Based on the writer’s personal experience the story rings with authenticity. Designer Jason Denvir uses the space economically, projected film adding realism to scenes of war-time devastation.

Derek Crewe’s Uncle Jack, a former coalminer with droll sense of humour and ready wit, is a delightfully endearing character, with Kate Dyson’s practical, hard-working motherly Auntie Rose an excellent foil. Both have fine voices and give the production a strong core. Conor Sheridan’s Gwyn and Jill Greenacre’s Mum are well played, while Anja Rodford’s worldly wise, precocious Elsie shows remarkable depth and maturity.

Random Jottings 'What a lovely, lovely book';

Stuck In A Book 'I predict a classic'.

Diana Athill 'A book that leaves one feeling grateful and happy

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