5 Stars: *****
Hey guys! So sorry I haven’t posted a review in a while, been really busy facing the wrath of my studies and rehearsing for Hamlet.
The Sum is a new play with songs by local playwright, Lizzie Nunnery, and is all together funny, poignant and thought provoking. A play for our current times.
The play tells the story of Eve, played to absolute perfection by Laura Dos Santos, who works at a Home and Hardware store. She is a numbers person, give her a sum and she can do it. She keeps a notebook of sums, working out her weekly bills for rent, food and everything else going on her life. Unfortunately, this comes crashing down when her partner, Danny, Played by Liam Tobin, ends up in a car crash, and is sacked for crashing the company car. Her daughter, Lisa, Played by Emily Hughes, is going through a tough time in school with bullies. And her mother, played by legendary Liverpool actress, Pauline Daniels, develops dementia. With Danny out of work, and her mother needing care, things take a turn for the worse when the her boss announces that staff at the store will he is reducing their hours due to cuts which aggravates her and her colleagues. The sums don’t work out, meaning she is in deficit. The Story follows the simple message of how far would you go to protect those you love and what would you sell to keep those near?
The story really speaks to the heart of the city of Liverpool, with its references and humour and language, but really, anyone can take anything from it, as it discusses the topics of austerity, mental health, cuts and reflects the views and thoughts of society in current times though the dialogue and music, which join together in perfect contrast, and go together beautifully.
The whole show is beautifully acted, and is literally stunning, and really emotional knowing the circumstances of the characters. Liam Tobin acts with a beautiful contrast, in the way that Danny is trying to cheer Eve up during the tough times and support her with her mum’s condition; however he also feels the struggle with having no job and being turned down at interviews. We really feel for him on his solo musical number in Act II.
Laura Dos Santos plays Eve to pure perfection as we see he break down financially and realize that life isn’t going so well having to take drastic measure to look after her family and the financial struggles she goes through throughout the play,, an really pulls a heart-string on the musical number “Come Lift Me Up”. Her monologue at the end of the play about cuts and our governments failings really engages the audience and leaves us a question of thought to reflect on.
Pauline Daniels has really captured dementia to the very point. And portrays Eve’s mum flawlessly. As mental health is brought about in the news fairly often nowerdays, it really shows the affect on what dementia has on those suffering with the condition and their family members and those closest to them, and this flowed right through her performance and through the text.
Emily Hughes plays Lisa, Eve’s daughter who can’t seem to fit in at school, and is getting bullied. She plays the character so well and gives us thought on peer pressure on our younger generation in society today. Her song “Magical Times” is quite simply beautiful! Other members in the cast include Dean Nolan, who is something of a comic genius, Melanie La Barrie, George Caple, Patrick Brennan, Tom Kanji, Zelina Rebeiro and Keddy Sutton.
It is very clear and apparent through their performances that the actors really care about this show and the role the play to the Everyman, being part of the first Rep Company in 25 years and it’s very clear that the all love and respect each other.
The set is basic, but does the job and suits the Everyman’s “in the round” seating well, which the Rep are performing in all season, rather than the usual thrust stage. The set is made up of 5 sections. A kitchen, a garden, a bedroom and a lounge, all on 4 raised platforms, surrounding the hollow in the middle of the thrust for the orchestra pit. Overall this show is a show for everyone and is a must. A musical play for our times.
Aaron Barker 