Fatherland by Nancy Farino has now opened at Hampstead Downstairs and guest reviewer Elaine Chapman went along for us.
Writer Farino also plays Joy, the troubled twenty-six year old who is trying to make sense of her own failed relationships while dealing with her dad, Winston (Jason Thorpe). He’s trying to figure out who the second family are that his dad left behind.
Winston has spent much of his savings and converted a bus into a home from home. He turns up unannounced and wants Joy to join him on his quest to find the second family abandoned by his dad, in Ireland! However, is this the only reason he wants to go?
The action shifts between the spontaneous road trip sort of organised by her dad, and the conversations between Claire and Winston’s appointed solicitor, Claire (Shona Babayemi).
Her firm mainly deals with parking fines, but after a few heated conversations she decides to rise to the challenges set out by Winston’s case and represent him.
Christopher Nairne brings depth to Fatherland with a range of lighting from the bright lights of the solicitors office to the red internal lights of Winston’s newly converted “sex bus” (which Joy doesn’t find amusing).
Each of the three cast members play believeable roles: the spontaneous dad whose daughter longs for him to take responsibility and be the father she wants; the solicitor who takes a while to believe in her strengths and take on a new case.
Farino’s script pulls you in and just as you think you are following the storyline it throws you into another direction. The relationship between Joy and Winston felt organic throughout the play.
Farino and Thorpe have a superb rapport on stage. I dare say many parents watching Fatherland will recognise these arguments that the pair have and they try to understand each other and frustrations boil over.
Four Stars.
Reviewed by Elaine Chapman.
Fatherland continues at Hampstead Downstairs until 29 Nov with tickets here.
Image credit: Pamela Raith