'The Colby Sisters of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania' Tricycle Theatre ****

Another production has now closed at Kilburn’s cute Tricycle Theatre. It was the world premiere of Adam Bock's, ‘The Colby Sisters of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’, which was a sublime performance indeed. ‘The Colby Sisters of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’ explains the often fraught relationships a group of five sisters have with one another and the effect that this can cause them throughout their lives. Moreover, the play indicates the bitter and twisted rivalry that the siblings need to maintain the structure of the hierarchy within the family. Bock’s writing clearly portrays the point that none of the Colby sisters are in fact happy, and they merely wallow away in their own self-pity, which of course is the fundamental foundation to their quarrels. The performance introduces us to Willow, India, Gemma, Garden and Mouse, who are frantically preparing for a charitable benefit that they are closely connected too. Obviously, the arguments begin almost immediately as Willow has been experiencing money issues and appears to be vastly wounded by the circumstances that are restricting her to purchase extraordinary dresses, like her sister s constantly do. Gemma, her sister, pretentiously parades herself in beautiful dresses, in spite of her own sister, which continues Willow's disappointing period in her life. The play focuses on a few distinct themes for example, rivalry, sorrow, bitterness, and the playwright has worked and constructed the performance to an excellent standard and one that intrigues you. One became moved to the point to tears during Willow’s funeral and it instigates the remaining four sisters to aid one another in their grief and to somewhat overlook that her problems with one another. The narrative flows incredibly well and for me, I did not become confused with the play’s events whatsoever. The performances by the company of ‘The Colby Sisters of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’ were performed with incredible tenacity and ease. Charlotte Parry is superb as the snooty sister, Gemma. There was such elegance and how she moved around during the benefit and how she seemed to feel more important than her other siblings. Claire Forloni is graceful as the poor and depressed, Willow, she portrayed a woman who is on the brink of despair because of her overwhelming problems. Alice Sanders is splendid as the youngest sister, Mouse. The scene where she becomes terribly emotional during her sisters funeral conveyed her youthful and rebellious nature. The direction by Trip Cullman was of an acceptable standard of directing. He has been able to, and quite surprisingly to present a play the only features six female characters and allows us to see what occurs behind closed doors and the qualms that it a collective of sisters have with one another. Richard Kent's designs were evidently astonishing as he has incorporated a traditional format of design with contemporary style four example the video projections. Overall, ‘The Colby Sisters of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’ was a very good production indeed and it's a shame you cannot go and see it now.