Beautiful Child

By Edfringe05,derek - 15th Aug 2005

This play is trading on the controversial tag of child abuse by a primary teacher. This only gets a cursory treatment in the writing, as we are presented with a standard account of a dysfunctional family dealing with what could be any other problem. The casting does not allow for age differences. Emily Murphy as the mother is the one positive element, presenting a quiet strength. Richard Weinman fails to convince as the father, playing on one level throughout and singularly not a man who would attract sexual interest outside his marriage, nor capable of making the shock judgement of the denouement – and certainly not of being able to carry it out. The direction is uninventive, much of the play is strangely backlit and there is random use of music.

Derek Benfield

C Central 18:05 running to 29 Aug.