Review: BY THE WATERS OF LIVERPOOL, Lichfield Garrick - Tour

Photo credit: Anthony Robling

Based on Helen Forrester’s book, By The Waters Of Liverpool is a period drama set in the 1930’s, beginning in 1935 as sixteen-year-old Helen is fighting a bitter battle against her parents for the right to get herself an education and go out to work. During the Great Depression, Helen’s father lost the family fortune when the stock market crashed and the family were forced into poverty, leaving behind the nannies, the servants and their middle-class life in the South West of England for small and barely furnished rooms in Liverpool.

Adapted for the stage by Rob Fennah and directed by Gareth Tudor Price, whilst the production captures the essence of the era, supported by the nostalgic lighting and set design, there are a few choices that inhibit full enjoyment of the piece.

Whilst the central character Helen (played by Emma Mulligan) takes on a part narrator role within the story, the other main characters that do this speak in the third person which feels a bit odd and unnatural. The story is portrayed well and has various comic moments but is slightly let down by the intermittent characters whom are portrayed in a caricature manner.

This is the second production of a Helen Forrester novel by Pulse Stage Productions and Bill Elms (Twopence To Cross The Mersey toured the UK in the Autumn of last year) and whilst the story itself is engaging, if you are seeing this for the first time and if you saw the previous production, it feels a little repetitive and like we’ve seen most of the first act before. The decision to produce two very similar and follow on stories in such a short space of time might have been better served as one production combining the two parts of Helen’s story.

Having loved the previous production, this one feels a bit deflated in its portrayal.

*** Three stars

Reviewed by: Rachel Louise Martin

By The Waters Of Liverpool plays at the Lichfield Garrick until 4 October before continuing its tour.