Review Yes, We’re Related, Lace-Evans Productions, Purple Door Productions, The Other Palace, By Hannah Goslin

 out of 5 stars (3 / 5)

I must say, it is a daily thought and worry of mine about the (hopefully, very far in the future) moment of losing my parents *touches wood*. I’m not sure my reaction, how I will cope, and whether there will be moments of insanity or even comedy. Yes, We’re Related has already helped my knowledge that this could be possible.

Yes, We’re Related, is the story of two very different sisters, dealing with the passing of their mother, a party to celebrate 1 year on, the memories and angst and… a squirrel. Yes that’s right, a squirrel. Gerald is believed to be their mother reincarnated but what ensues is a stark look at the sister’s relationship, with one another, their mother and one of their partners and how to cope within loss.

A mixture of themes, this production certainly has moments of highs and lows. I wouldn’t say that it touches deeply in terms of sentiment or bringing a tear to your eye, but it brings out sympathies and certainly makes you think about your own relationships with family and friends. The highs are very high, with quick witted humour and a contrasting characterisation between sisters; one is prim and proper, organised and seemingly with her life together, the other, short of a breakdown within grief, is buoyant and erratic and extroverted. The two bounce off each other, with little break for pause, and this works really well. It feels truly natural as a sisterhood and as if we are peaking through that fourth wall.

The partner who is the third wheel of this relationship, is more like his partner’s sister than her; wild and melodramatic but also love-able. However, we know him as Mark, and twice does he accidentally get referred to as Mike. We can only assume this is an ex that the sister is fixated on, but we never reach that revelation and so it doesn’t quite add to the story as it maybe was meant to.

The squirrel, Gerald, is never seen. I’ll admit, I thought would there be some hand puppet or wildly, someone dressed as a squirrel. But no, he is presented in sound and light only, using our figment of imagination when he escapes and this works really well. He is meant to be the mother in animal form and the symbiotic relationship between him and the sister living there is concerning but also heartwarming. Her way of coping. A story, heard many a time in different guises. So when he leaves the story, and she succumbs to her grief, it is heartwarming and tearing all at the same time.

Yes, We’re Related is a roller coaster of comedy, meaningful conversation and a warm hug in what we will all experience, in one way or another. The performances and relationships are impeccable and it tells an age old story in a unique and new way.

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