Alison Skilbeck is a very accomplished and talented actress and she presents, with skill, four women, as she describes them, “on the verge of a nervous breakthrough”. Her cleverly written and economically performed portraits are by turns touching, humorous and informative.  An Ambassador’s wife has been deserted, heartlessly, unexpectedly, and inconveniently as she was packing to depart from a Foreign Office posting. Skillbeck simply is this woman: the detail and authenticity of her observation, not just of the journey of woman’s emotions – shock, hurt, anger, survival – but also of the FO milieu to the world of art-therapy, is masterly. We are then treated to a delightful Italian waitress with a North London accent (though, dare I say it, I did feel it slipped a bit too well at moments into N1!) was followed by an amusing demonstration of Spirit Weaving with her next character coping with her nerves.

 

I hope I’m never given this rather tedious and unproductive occupation to take my mind off my troubles – an imaginative therapy, but it would drive me mad! Finally, and again with a quick and total transformation of mind,voice and movement - and aura, as can only be accomplished but a ‘character actor’ of great skill and imagination - we sympathise and laugh in the company of a lonely Businesswoman. The four parts do not add up to one whole and, as in a programme of One Act Plays, I found the adjustments hard work. The catharsis I look for when I go to the theatre is lacking which reduces a stylish performance to the borderline of 3 to 4 Stars. Nevertheless this is skilful, entertaining and enjoyable evening all the same, and deserves to be seen. Alison Skilbeck is a very accomplished and talented actress and she presents, with skill, four women, as she describes them, “on the verge of a nervous breakthrough”. Her cleverly written and economically performed portraits are by turns touching, humorous and informative.  An Ambassador’s wife has been deserted, heartlessly, unexpectedly, and inconveniently as she was packing to depart from a Foreign Office posting.

 

Skillbeck simply is this woman: the detail and authenticity of her observation, not just of the journey of woman’s emotions – shock, hurt, anger, survival – but also of the FO milieu to the world of art-therapy, is masterly. We are then treated to a delightful Italian waitress with a North London accent (though, dare I say it, I did feel it slipped a bit too well at moments into N1!) was followed by an amusing demonstration of Spirit Weaving with her next character coping with her nerves. I hope I’m never given this rather tedious and unproductive occupation to take my mind off my troubles – an imaginative therapy, but it would drive me mad! Finally, and again with a quick and total transformation of mind,voice and movement - and aura, as can only be accomplished but a ‘character actor’ of great skill and imagination - we sympathise and laugh in the company of a lonely Businesswoman. The four parts do not add up to one whole and, as in a programme of One Act Plays, I found the adjustments hard work. The catharsis I look for when I go to the theatre is lacking which reduces a stylish performance to the borderline of 3 to 4 Stars.

 

Nevertheless this is skilful, entertaining and enjoyable evening all the same, and deserves to be seen. Alison Skilbeck is a very accomplished and talented actress and she presents, with skill, four women, as she describes them, “on the verge of a nervous breakthrough”. Her cleverly written and economically performed portraits are by turns touching, humorous and informative.  An Ambassador’s wife has been deserted, heartlessly, unexpectedly, and inconveniently as she was packing to depart from a Foreign Office posting. Skillbeck simply is this woman: the detail and authenticity of her observation, not just of the journey of woman’s emotions – shock, hurt, anger, survival – but also of the FO milieu to the world of art-therapy, is masterly. We are then treated to a delightful Italian waitress with a North London accent (though, dare I say it, I did feel it slipped a bit too well at moments into N1!) was followed by an amusing demonstration of Spirit Weaving with her next character coping with her nerves.

 

I hope I’m never given this rather tedious and unproductive occupation to take my mind off my troubles – an imaginative therapy, but it would drive me mad! Finally, and again with a quick and total transformation of mind,voice and movement - and aura, as can only be accomplished but a ‘character actor’ of great skill and imagination - we sympathise and laugh in the company of a lonely Businesswoman. The four parts do not add up to one whole and, as in a programme of One Act Plays, I found the adjustments hard work. The catharsis I look for when I go to the theatre is lacking which reduces a stylish performance to the borderline of 3 to 4 Stars. Nevertheless this is skilful, entertaining and enjoyable evening all the same, and deserves to be seen.