Weekend Notes review for The Children’s Hour
“If you enjoy thought-provoking theatre that keeps your rapt attention, I should warn you there are only a couple nights’ performances of “The Children’s Hour” left…
For my money, the stand out performances were from Vivien Whittle and Alexandria Page who played Karen Wright and Martha Dobie respectively, the women stuck at the centre of malicious, career and life destroying rumours. The pair’s commitment and realism was the kind that makes you forget yourself and your surrounds.
The play suffered occasionally from a case of the drifting accent, mostly striking some of the actors in the more intensely emotional moments, and some of the physicality was a little too modern for the period, but neither of these things destroyed the plot for me. It was very engaging and well-paced, and clearly director Meredith Downes has done a great job in rehearsing the cast as queues were picked up and staging was solid. The large ensemble of teenagers playing the school girls were directed to the point where some delivered performances beyond their years, which is always impressive.”
Weekend Notes reviewer Kiesten McCauley came to the show last night.