SKIRMISHES was a brave choice. A play, where one women is in a coma and the other two bicker the whole time, is not everyone’s idea of a fun night out but stay with us.

Skirmishes was an enthralling piece of theatre that brought out the very best in local theatre in Harlow.

The sisters Jean and Rita (played by Gemma Colton and Jess Ricketts), are at the deathbed of their Mother (Jaki Newman) and there is no amount of love lost between them. 

It is set in one room, a stark bedroom with one bed and one chair.

But for the two hours, you are gripped by the quality of acting and the way Gem and Jess dominate the stage.

Gemma almost dons a mask as she plays the bitter, oh so bitter Jean whilst Jess is a different breed of bitter in a young Constance Bucket sort of way.

The play may be set in 1982 but it has so many contemporary themes. Anyone who has had close relatives die, knows there can be internal dynamics that, having sat beneath the surface, for a long time, come up for air.

Much of the best acting is the looks, the subtle gestures, the body language and the stress between the two sisters.

They have far much more in common than they will admit and that is underlined as the back story develops.

Hats off to Jaki Newman. At one stage, this reviewer was wondering what that breathing noise was. Then he realised it was Mother. Wonder if you can get an award for “breathing”?

We must go back to Gem and Jess. They are such versatile actors. For Jess to switch from Alice Tinker in Vicar of Dibley to quite a menacing Fay in A Chorus of Disapproval is quite a feat.

For Gemma to be so extrovert as Toby Belch in MHP’s Twelfth Night to Jean here is also remarkable. In Skirmishes it was as if she was wearing a mask and that is a real talent.

The hallmark of Jim Thompson’s direction is to let the play and the acting breath and that is exactly what happened. This play at times was sparse with short but distinct periods of no dialogue. But the audience was totally enthralled.

Well done to all those back stage.

This is a really welcome and important additon to the local theatre portfolio here in Harlow.

Skirmishes continues. Full details below.

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/essex/the-victoria-hall-theatre-old-harlow/skirmishes-by-catherine-hayes/e-jdqoyz