Well-written and acted whodunnit which handles delicate subjects

Doubting Thomas

Theatre Royal Windsor

Wednesday, June 4

THE premise in the pre-
publicity of Doubting Thomas sounded far from promising: Dad/Tom/Mr Noble, suffering from dementia, has been put away in a care home where he is found one day crouching over the dead carer, Mark. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, it is assumed that he has killed the carer.

Yet the play is far from depressing.

The story opens in the family home where Tom’s family await the arrival of a solicitor to tell them that all is well. But it is not and so begins the unravelling of family secrets. This play is a “whodunnit” which keeps the audience guessing, rightly, until the very final scene. The writers, Charlotte O’Reilly and Tim Churchill, show skilful handling of delicate subjects.

The cast, with their solid television credits, all act their various parts superbly.

Louis Holland as Ben, the truculent teenager, gave a very good performance. He had clearly studied, or maybe he is young enough to remember, the body language of that age group. Shame that he was not given more to say by the writers.

There were excellent performances by Felicity Dean as the mother, Jane Noble, and her two feuding daughters, Claire Marlowe as Sara, the spiky, histrionic, possessive mother of Ben, and Eva O’Hara as the younger and oh-so-cool Anna.

What a dream role for Claire — all that backbiting and crying. The only character who could be cut is that of Peter Noble. He was well played by Gary Webster but his only purpose seems to be to point up the relative strength of Jane and to give the writers the chance to bring in some moments of laughter.

The set was too crowded and old-fashioned for the sophisticated audiences of today but maybe that was the point — to illustrate the crowded, troubled mind of Jane.

The lighting was used to very good effect to mark the passing of time with no need for words.

Doubting Thomas has an excellent script and is a production well worth seeing.

It is certain to generate many a discussion. Is it all right to take one’s own life before getting old and dribbly? Should one think of those left behind who perhaps still need your experience and wisdom? Is it right that what we can do for a beloved pet we cannot do for a beloved human? Is the law still an ass to prosecute, for example, dementia patients? How far would you go to protect the people you love?

See Doubting Thomas, ask the questions that it presents and find your own answers perhaps.

But also enjoy the sheer pleasure of being in the audience for such a well-written, well-acted play.

Doubting Thomas is showing until tomorrow (Saturday). For more information, call the box office on 01753 853888.

Bridget Fraser