A new stage production set in a modernist mansion in Kent delves into the dark undercurrents of a wealthy family haunted by a tainted past and unfolding tragedy. The play centers on Christopher, portrayed by David Morrissey, a troubled patriarch wrestling with the consequences of a weapons manufacturing empire that secured his family’s fortune. Offstage, his daughter Isabel is actively rebelling against this legacy, engaging in direct action against the company on the day of her 21st birthday, while her uncle Melville (Lloyd Hutchinson) seeks to silence her to protect the family’s interests.
The narrative explores the complex dynamics within this fractured household. Montie, played by Mary-Louise Parker, is caught between her allegiance to the family business and her emotional attachment to Isabel, whom she favors over Isabel’s twin sister Alice (Rosie Sheehy) and their introverted brother Augie (Tom Glynn-Carney). On the periphery, Jerome (John Macmillan) and his son Lorenzo (Archie Madekwe) are drawn into the family’s turmoil, each harboring secret and unsettling obsessions.
The production draws overt inspiration from Ancient Greek tragedy, particularly the figure of Iphigenia, casting Isabel as a symbol of innocence irrevocably lost. The playwright adapts classical themes of honour and familial duty to the setting of contemporary England, embedding ancient moral codes within modern societal conflicts. The script’s densely layered and often disorienting dialogue demands the audience’s close attention as they navigate the tangled relationships and power struggles.
Visually, the set design by Lizzie Clachan is a standout element. The meticulously crafted two-story cube serves as a rotating dollhouse, revealing hidden tableaux of violence and pursuit. This dynamic staging enhances the sense of claustrophobia and impending catastrophe within the family’s carefully constructed world.
Parker’s portrayal of Montie provides a moral fulcrum, as her character grapples with the idea that forgiveness might enable injustice to prevail. She navigates a spectrum of emotions, from simmering rage to lucid dream sequences that hark back to more idyllic times. Sheehy’s interpretation of Alice offers a grounded, intense performance, embodying a frustrated intellect striving for accountability amid familial chaos.
While the play excels in maintaining suspense and delivering a richly textured murder mystery across its lengthy three-and-a-half-hour runtime—balanced by two intervals—it has been noted that the narrative’s turn towards psychological breakdown and extreme violence in its final act risks oversimplifying the underlying causes of the family’s disintegration. The story’s unresolved corporate corruption subplot leaves some anticipated revelations unrealized.
Running until 19 September, the production presents a compelling exploration of loyalty, secrecy, and mental unraveling within an affluent but deeply fractured family, marrying classical motifs with contemporary storytelling in a meticulously staged theatrical experience.