There is power and sincerity in the way in which grief is explored through two different perspectives.
Grief is a complex emotion and Anna Ziegler explores it with great sensitivity and rawness in her play ‘Evening All Afternoon’ that is directed with great poignancy by Diyan Zora.
This two-handed play follows the changing relationship between Jennifer who is about to marry Delilah’s father but both have had different experiences of grief. Delilah is still very much grieving the untimely death of her mother and resenting Jennifer for coming into their lives. Meanwhile Jennifer is clinging on to her memory of her mother through objects special to her. Throughout they clash, try and make peace and misunderstand each other, while circling each other.
It is fascinating to watch in terms of their differing approaches the grief and how it has affected them in contrasting ways. Jennifer is constantly walking on egg shells with Delilah and it highlights her vulnerability and loneliness (particularly when her husband John is working all night shifts), while Delilah is spiky and conflicted emotionally – particularly when she begins to rely on seeing her mother’s spirit that leads to an explosive confrontation between the pair that leads to understanding.
This is a cleverly written play as it offers two different perspectives on the same situations that both characters focus on, highlighting the character’s differences but equally just actually there are subtle similarities between them that eventually helps bring peace their relationships and their grief. Their memories also form a focus to add extra depth and poignancy.
The simplicity and dreamlike quality of Basia Bińkowska’s set design, really captures just how important memory is in our day to day lives as well as the impact it has on our feelings of grief and nostalgia. In addition, the lighting design by Natasha Chivers is beautifully subtle and used powerfully – with the memory of a magic show being a really powerful moment that ties in beautifully with the story as a whole.
This is a story that is never obvious, it constantly twists and turns and you sympathise for both women in completely different ways (although I did feel that Delilah’s problems at university with her tutor could have been used as a completely separate story and still tie in with the themes of grief expressed here).
The performances are exquisite in completely different ways. Anastasia Hille is wonderfully restrained as Jennifer, capturing the character’s uncertainty and covering of emotions through gentle depreciating humour. There is vulnerability but hints of strength in the way in which she deals with the conflicting nature of Delilah. Erin Kellyman as Delilah is wonderfully spiky and direct, capturing the character’s vulnerability and strength despite her grief blurring the lines of reality for her.
Overall, Evening All Afternoon is perhaps not perfect – but that could be the point. Grief takes us all in many different directions and has a different impact on different people. It is a subtle piece of drama that is enthralling because of its two magnetic performances at the centre of it all.
By Emma Clarendon
Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Evening All Afternoon continues to play until the 11th April.