‘Merit’ is set in Spain, 2013 where we are familiarised with
highly-stung daughter, Sofia who has recently been employed as a PA to an illustrious
Spanish banker, nonetheless, her mother, Patricia suggests that she wasn’t offered
the job simply for her work ethic, but
for flirting with him, which she finds to be completely ludicrous. With this in
mind, there is a clash of opinion as Sofia is unhappy that her mother thinks
this of her so she makes the decision to move out of the family home and reside
at her friends. Over the course of the performance, Sofia’s father and Patricia’s
husband, who is not in sight is not exactly helping the awkwardness of Sofia
and Patricia’s mother-daughter exchange where we are informed that he has lost
his job, considered suicide attempts, finding a new job and most significantly
his urge to have the two most important women in his life to live together in
the same home. Patricia is being quite
childish when it comes to realising her responsibilities such as getting a job
herself and not always relying on her daughter to work and pay the bills, furthermore,
she constantly embarrasses Sofia as she stands outside the bank’s HQ where she
demands a meeting with Sofia’s boss, Antonio. You can see how mature Sofia is
for someone of her age as her job is very well paid as it is obvious that she
has much respect for Antonio because he has given her a massively good
opportunity which Patricia doesn’t appear to comprehend and appreciate. In order to understand Sofia’s admiration of
her boss, Patricia asks Sofia to invite Antonio for dinner sometime and Sofia says
that she’ll ask him despite the fact that Antonio is in fact a married man.
Throughout the performance, the Spanish economy is in financial ruin so the
Spanish people are noticeably angry and wreak havoc on the banks where in this instance,
we learn that Antonio has been massacred by a group of protestors. At the
finale, Sofia is told by her own mother that she participated in the murder of
Antonio and she does not seem to appear apologetic whatsoever; as such a colossal
wedge is brought between them which could mean their relationship is beyond
repair. Wood’s narrative is suitable as we can see how mediums of exchange and
perceptions causes a mother and her daughter to be at each other’s throats which
isn’t healthy whatsoever in particular how selfish Patricia can be towards her
daughter, Sofia and criticises her choices.
One found the performances by the company of, ‘Merit’ to be sincere
as the two-hander approach to the whole production has enabled us to see how
the relationship between the mother and daughter was incalculably fraught and
this is shown through appropriately convincing diction, intonation, pace, pause
and articulation. Ellie Turner is acceptable as the feisty, Sofia; for the most
part where we can see her displeasure due to the fact that her mother doesn’t really
approve of her occupation, moreover, there’s an essence of upset here because
of her mother’s unloving nature towards her which means she must take offence
to a lot of what people say to her. Karen Ascoe is tolerable as mother,
Patricia; especially how staggering it is to see a mother treating her daughter
with utter disregard as she is the one who is bringing the money to the table,
as well as, her idiotic persona ultimately makes you sympathise with the
daughter profusely.
Tom Littler’s direction is pleasing here as he has captured
how roles can be flip-reversed where your empathy is on the side of the
daughter compared to that of the mother, plus, the analysis of how money comes
to play in fracturing a relationship that is already at the point of its end is
well defined through the characterisations from a comfortable two person
company. Phillip Lindley’s design is lovely as you do realise of your location which
is a modern Spanish city and the traverse staging is quite good to see as the darkness
of Rob Mills’ wonderful lighting design fully encapsulates the harsh reality of
the power of money. Overall, the experience of, ‘Merit’ was an interrogation
into how parents can hoodwink their children no matter what age they are into
doing what they are told which is not that nice.
No comments:
Post a Comment