I caught David Hare’s play ‘The Breath of Life’ as it passed through Belrose’s Glen Street Theatre in mid March whilst in the midst of its national tour (Hit productions). The production has been directed by Kate Cherry and stars Helen Morse and Kirsty Child. It is interesting to note that fhe London premiere of the play, Dames Judi Dench and Maggie Smith were the featured players.

With ‘The Breath of Life’ the brilliant British playwright chose a highly charged situation, featuring the meeting of a wife and the other woman. Helen Morse plays the other woman, Madeline Palmer, a retired curator and self reliant woman who has her own place on the Isle of Wight. The action begins when the wife, Frances Beale, played by Kirsty Child, pays a visit to her. Beale is a novelist who has recently had a lot of success with her writing. Through the course of a single night, the two women sift through their memories,dreams, regrets and decisions, unearthing answers to painful questions they would have prefered to leave alone.

I enjoyed Kate Cherry’s production of yet another fine David Hare play. What were the elements that stuck out?! I thought Adam Gardnir’s set was quite beautiful with its depiction of Madeline’s plush, velvety Isle of Wight apartment. I lound Kate Cherry’s direction tight, and enjoyed the way the play on an emotional level started quietly but built up to a really strong climax.

Both performances were strong. Helen Morse received the main billing but I felt that Kirsty Child’s performance was just as strong and effective. There were some especially ice-breaking moments in this production. There were two moments that came to mind, and they were both given to Kirsty Child.

A scene has Frances describe in painful detail to Madeline the time when she had a major confrontation scene with her husband over his affair. Frances described in vivid detail how her husband saw Frances as a kind of perfect modern woman and how much she felt betrayed by him saying it. How could he idealise this other woman when she was doing so much for him, being a loving wife and raising their children?! One felt sure that a lot of women in the audience would be able to relate to the feelings of this woman on stage!

Frances, towards the end of the play, expresses a feeling to Madeline that crystalises a feeling that many middle aged people have. She described how when she was young she fell in love so easily and she could be spontaneous and plunge into love. Now in middle-age she felt much more reserved. there was much less impulsiveness, much more guardedness. The feelings just weren’t the same. There was too much history.

Summing up, I found David Hare’s ‘The Breath Of Life’ a touching. reflective play that was given a strong and eloquent local production.