The Stillborn Lover

‘The Stillborn Lover’ by Canadian playwright Tim Findley is the latest production from the Garrick Theatre team in Guildford. It is showing nightly at 8.00 pm until Saturday 23^rd August.

            Diplomat, Harry Raymond (Colin Hughes) and his wife Marion (Dale James) have been recalled from the Moscow Embassy and returned to a safe house in Ottawa. They are met by their daughter (Kristine Lockwood), who discovers that her mother is starting to develop Alzheimer’s. On arrival at their new home they are met by their old friends, politician Michael Riordon (Max Harvey) and his wife Juliet (Marion West). Michael is on the eve of becoming the new Canadian Prime Minister.
            When the daughter finds two men wandering in their garden, she discovers that there had been a murder in Moscow and these men (Ray Egan and Jason Bouwhuis) were detectives here to protect her parents – or were they?

This very tightly and well constructed, intellectual play is beautifully directed by John Lobb. The small Garrick stage is divided into no less than five separate locations, each with a quality individual décor. The stage is on four levels, yet with careful direction and superb lighting (Roy Hopwell, operator Linda Redman) the action switches easily around.
The story has occasional flashbacks, which give an interesting insight to the parents’ earlier life and the locations at which they have worked.
The acting was well above average, with a special credit to Dale and Ray. A tricky script conquered by talent. The ending, whilst being clearly explained by the actors, seemed to leave a little confusion with some audience members, so concentrate towards the end.
A quality show for the intelligent theatregoer.