David Hare’s drama explores several conflicts in society and the arts, while delving most heavily into the debate between live theatre and film as seen through the lens of Amy’s view as her life gets torn apart by the struggle between her mother and husband. 

Her mother Esmie is one of the more popular stage stars in England, while her young husband Brendan Ford is a critic who believes theatre is dead (or should be), made irrelevant by the advent of film. He considers live theatre to be the domain of elitists, while film is the art of the masses that will topple the elitists like the masses toppled the aristocracy of France. Yet money and fame, or the lack of, along with a deep and abiding sense of selfishness, drive both their destinies. Not love, as Amy had hoped.

North Coast Repertory Theatre’s well-staged production is directed by David Ellenstein who keeps the focus squarely on the characters and their conflicting relationships, which are brought out nicely by the cast. Amanda Sitton is terrific as Amy, a sensitive, youthfully idealistic young woman who doesn’t know how to handle the bitter hatred between her mother and her spouse. The always-sensational Rosina Reynolds is the mother Esme, trying to covertly and not-so-covertly pry Amy away from the man who so clearly hates Esme’s art and values system, eventually transforming from a proud and successful matriarch to an exhausted and dispirited woman in the process. Brendan Ford is the husband who speaks of idealism, but who is certainly no less blinded by greed, power or dogma than are the institutions he rails against. The character might have worked better if there was something in his personality to really like about him, but he still acts as a strong adversary to the mother.

Performs through July 3, 2005.

Rob Hopper
San Diego Playbill