Exploring Catholicism and Anglo-Indian ethnicity, this drama centres around a mother-daughter relationship…
By Suman Bhuchar
ATMOSPHERIC, stylish, cinematic and finely performed, are just some of the adjectives that describe ‘Bungalow’, the new debut play by Ruth D’Silva.
‘Bungalow’ is presented jointly by Jessie Anand Productions and Theatre 503, where the show is currently premiering.
D’Silva, is a writer of Anglo-Indian heritage and her play ‘Bungalow’ explores trauma as transmitted through generation and the shame associated with silence but also gives us healing with perhaps some forgiveness.
The show is sensitively directed by Beth Kapila and performed by a cast of four actors.
Mum Bernadette (Fisun Burgess) lives in a crooked house at the end of the lane. The set by Caitlin Mawhinney (who is also the costume designer) is an interior of a house with peach pink white walls. It takes up the entire the stage space, featuring a staircase leading upwards to bedroom which is played on stage.
There is a large picture of Christ and few crosses and a religious cuckoo clock and a carpet beater on the three main walls denoting the Catholic faith of the protagonists.
To the stage right is a doorway leading into an imaginary kitchen with a phone hanging on the wall.
The house is as much a character, as the people and through the beautiful sound design by José Guillermo Puello, it cracks, moans and shatters almost like a 1970s mystery film, ably aided by the lighting effects by Cheng Keng.
Daughter Agatha (Lydia Bakelmun) is returning home because dad Joseph is unwell — he’s an absent presence who exerts a lot of influence. The relationship between mother and daughter is tense, with the conversation stilted and banal.
Agatha is trying to break the ice between between herself and her mother by discussing dyeing her hair and what number of dye to get; and maybe visiting her dad in hospital.
She doesn’t want to sleep in her old bedroom, preferring instead to be in the front room with the noise of the late-night television for company.
Mum is pretty bossy, religious and slightly controlling but they have one thing in common. They both enjoy singing and the two female cast have beautiful voices. Mother wants to sing hymns but the daughter wants a particular Barbara Allen song — a ballad about love, pride, guilt and regret – but mum refuses to oblige as it goes against her idea of Catholic morality.
There are two men in the story – her brother is called Luke and is played by actor, (Mikhael DeVille) and the other is her lover Steven (Jack Bence).
Although the story is dark and it’s a tense watch, there are some lighter moments in the writing, especially in the relationship between Agatha and Steven.
In the second act, the dynamic between mother and daughter alter, as they begin to deal with the abuse and hidden secrets in the family.
Seeped in religious imagery, underscoring everything including the denouement at the last supper scene, this atmospheric show will stay with you for a long time.
ACV rating: **** (out of five)
Main picture: Agatha (Lydia Bakelmun) ©Jessie Anand Productions and Theatre 503
Theatre 503 is located upstairs at the Latchmere Pub, Battersea where Bungalow runs until Saturday (March 15).
Theatre 503, Battersea Park Road, London SW11 3BW
https://theatre503.com/whats-on/bungalow-2/
The show does deal with distressing themes and as such the recommended age guidance is 16+ and show is 120 mins including an interval
There is also a care pack available to download at the venue from a QR code
