Heart-warming festive story

WYNYARD Browne’s wonderfully uplifting Christmas drama is a heart-warming tale set around the Christmas Eve and Day of 1947.

It follows the family of the elderly Rev Martin Gregory as they gather to celebrate the festive season.

They include the faithful daughter and her secret boyfriend, the relationship kept under wraps for fear of upsetting the father who depends on her in his everyday life, her fashion writer sister, back from London for the occasion with her own tragic secret, and the happy-go-lucky son on leave from the army, facing four years at university on discharge when he really doesn’t want to go.

Two wonderfully characterful bickering aunts and cousin Richard, the “seen it all” ex-army man and godfather of the unfulfilled daughter, Jenny, complete the cast.

Simmering tensions, hidden heartbreak and desires and stunning revelations, topped with a dose of good humour, make it a Christmas to remember, and a reminder that we never really know anyone — even our nearest and dearest.

“The Holly and the Ivy,” directed by Michael Lunney, draws the audience into the intricacies of family life, and is a charming, uplifting play, despite the ever-present tensions and undercurrents. My favourite aunt, Lydia, was played by Hildegard Neil, desperate to make the ageing reverend set his young daughter free to follow her dreams.

Sally Sanders was tremendously funny as uptight Aunt Bridget, whose own chance for happiness was stymied by years of caring for her mother, and didn’t want “opportunities” to pass her niece by.

Dean Smith did a great job of playing the son, Mick Gregory, and Alan Leith stood out for his brilliant performance as cousin Richard.

The play runs until Saturday.