Cat On A Hot Tin Roof

Company B - Belvoir Street Theatre

It is Big Daddy's 65th birthday and although under a health cloud his family gather for a party to celebrate the milestone. Younger and favoured son Brick, drink constantly in hand, is under attack from his sexually frustrated wife, Maggie. Older son, Gooper, his wife and brood of children, are currying favour with the patriarch.

Tennessee William's classic 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' is being staged by Company B in a somewhat muddled interpretation. The cast use their natural accents and purport to be playing out a situation 'here and now'. Whilst this doesn't distract overall it certainly provides an odd counterpoint with the deep south and American sporting references in tact in the dialogue.

It is not until the second act that there is any reference to the heat that supposedly pervades the setting and the absence of the play's original southern accent means the languid rhythm of the piece is missing.

There is a lot of noise that irritated me and the longest off stage fireworks display this side of a millenium new year's eve.

★★