Children of the Wolf

Review by: Paul Towers, 30/9/15

Children of The Wolf by John Peacock

Leicester Drama Society

Little Theatre, 28^th September – 3^rd October 2015

“psychological suspense and Hitchcockian.”

This play is certainly a world away from the Little Theatre’s often light and fluffy productions. A small cast of three portray a mother and twins as well as a few characters from the past in this powerful cautionary tale of poor choices and their repercussions.

Helena, as a flighty teenager in the 60’s, finds herself pregnant, as so many did, and resorts to the highly illegal and dangerous practice of a trip to the local back street abortionist. As was often the case the results were far from satisfactory and she gave birth to severely underweight twins, one of whom suffered brain damage due to a lack of oxygen during the delivery. As was the custom in those far off, unenlightened times the children were taken from the single mother and fostered and hopefully adopted. To cope with this Helena blotted all thought of her lost children from her mind and, due to the botched termination, was never able to be a mother again.

Fast forward 21 years and her naturally resentful offspring have hunted her down, stalked her every movement and laid a cunning trap. She is lured back to the scene of that fateful night, the occasion of the children’s conception, completely unaware that the vengeance of her aggrieved offspring awaits her.

Becca Cooper as Linda, the brains in the twindom, is a stalwart of the Leicester amateur scene and gets to show her dramatic chops as she in turn chews up the scenery and manipulates whoever she needs to. Ross Bayliss, a name new to me but certainly someone to watch, has a very physical role as the disabled twin Robin as well as playing the young Michael. Finally, as the mother Helena, Nadine Beasley is at times victim and justifier by turn.

This is not a blood and guts, violent story of retribution; rather a disturbing tale of psychological suspense in the Hitchcock style with a twist in the tale that will blindside you right at the very end.

First published in Western Gazette
(c) Paul Towers 30/9/15