Review: Di and Viv and Rose at Theatre by the Lake

“…Olivia Sweeney absolutely nails it…A brilliant, brilliant performance….”

Di and Viv and Rose by Amelia Bullmore, Theatre by the Lake

By Ken Powell

Over the last fifteen years or so, I’ve probably written more book reviews than theatre (and I’ve done a lot of theatre). In that time, I’ve always maintained in my reviews that the key ingredient to a good novel for me is this: when I finish the last page, do I care what happens next to the characters? That’s the litmus test for a good book. You can forgive almost anything else if the characters get under your skin.

I came to Theatre by the Lake last night, not knowing what to make about Di and Viv and Rose because I knew nothing really about the story. This was a complete contrast to their recent Pride and Prejudice production, where I knew, if not every line, certainly every scene, and I was totally up for that. This current production, following the course of the lives of three women who meet at university in the ’80s, was neutral territory for me. I hadn’t met the characters, I didn’t know them and so I didn’t like them.

Which is pretty much what happens with the girls too, as they slowly get to know one another and eventually deal with each other’s idiosyncrasies when they move in together. Initially wary, there are clashes – especially between raucous Rose, who is always obsessed with boys, and hyper-serious Viv, who sees the domination of men in everything. But there’s also sweetness, fun, dancing (a lot of dancing) and true friendship that proves to be essential when tragedy strikes.

Which segues nicely into the trigger warnings essential to know before seeing this play. While nothing is graphically demonstrated, sexual violence is an issue that is central to the play. The matter is handled astonishingly well and, if it is not inappropriate to say, just about as positively as it is possible to do. The script here exudes experience and care.

From that, you might think that this is a heavy, tearjerker of a play. Strangely, that’s not the case. It’s light, fun and incredibly upbeat considering the various tragic moments these women go through. It’s also messy. There’s no attempt to ‘tidy up’ some of the loose ends. While there is a beginning, middle and end, these traditional components of a story arc are largely irrelevant. This play celebrates friendship in itself more than anything else.

And that leads me on to my difficulty in writing this review. Friendship in general I get. The kind of friendship exclusively between women, I can’t. My biological sex gets in the way of that. It is perhaps for that reason that I could see the ladies in the audience (and my own ‘plus one’) much more deeply moved at the end of the story than the gents. Don’t get me wrong, I shed a tear or two (I’m coming to that) but this was a production that half the audience are going to empathise with in a way the other half simply can’t.

And yet.

And yet, for all that, I found my litmus test for novels well and truly met here. When the lights fell for the last time, I wanted more of these three friends. I wanted to know what happens next. I was captivated by their whole dynamic and almost felt like I was part of the group – aided by the intimacy that comes from seating the audience ‘in the round’ (one of the very special treats offered by Theatre by the Lake).

How was this achieved? I’m not entirely sure. At the end of the first act, I wasn’t totally feeling it. I was enjoying the wonderful romp through ’80s kitsch and attempting to semi-silently bop to the cracking tunes of my youth, but I was observing the developing friendship rather neutrally. Somewhere along the way, during the second act, that all changed. Now I laughed when the characters laughed, celebrated with them and wanted to hug them when things came crashing down. I got the feeling we all did.

While lighting, sound, staging and directing all play important parts in a production like this (and I will never understand how a director stage-manages actors when the audience is on all sides of the stage), this production is held together by the three actors who are the entire focus of the story. Sally Hodgkiss, playing Di, does an essential job of presenting ‘the lesbian one’ in the trio. I can’t say why without spoilers, but her role is so important and Hodgkiss is perfect. Amelia Donkor, as Viv who is, in many ways, the most complex of the three, is believable and intriguing. Viv is the one I’m left most wanting to know more about by the end.

But without a doubt, the glue holding the friendship and the play together is Rose. Olivia Sweeney absolutely nails it in her performance. It is all but impossible not to love the character and feel for her more than for the other two. Sweeney hooks us in with every line she utters, along with every smile, flash of her eyes or toss of her hair. Rose is the heart of this story and Sweeney makes sure we’re captivated from beginning to end. The effect is so strong that, even when she’s not on the stage, her presence is felt by all. A brilliant, brilliant performance.

Is this play a classic? Possibly not. There are loose ends and one or two deviations that I feel are slightly distracting. Is it a cracking night out at the theatre? Absolutely – this production is simply such fun, at least for most of the time. Will you remember the characters for a long time to come? I think so – certainly if you’re anything like me. If you remember the ’80s and you remember the innocence of youth and the giddiness of making friendships that would prove to stand the test of time, then you are going to love watching these three. They’re more than worth the price of the ticket. This play is a real delight.

Di and Viv and Rose plays at Theatre by the Lake until Saturday 11 October. Tickets are available here.

Ken Powell is chief editor for Northern Arts Review and is also a bestselling author and writer for various publications around the world. A former school teacher, he continues to write educational books along with fiction and travelogues. You can find all his books and various websites here including his popular TEDx talk about the Global Village. He lives with his family in a wonderfully isolated village in West Cumbria where he enjoys drinking tea, chatting with the birds and winding up his dog. You can support his work (or just buy him a coffee) here.