"Table"

Amazing! Just, amazing! Possibly the best thing I've ever seen in my entire life.
The collaboration of a well-written play with a touching message about family ancestry and relationships; backed with incredible acting, singing and choreographed movement made for a spectacular show.
At the beginning, things don't make sense. I didn't quite understand it all. However, it was so engaging, well performed, and consequently I could enjoy it greatly it even without fully comprehending all the character's relationship's. As it starts to piece together, and things start to click the performance became more and more enjoyable. By the end, the audience was on the edge of their seats.
There was an emotional journey, with highs of laughter and moments of pure emotion, sadness, anger, regret, sympathy. I found it astonishing how in one piece of theatre there could be such a contrast in laughter and comedy and then a silent room of audience members choking up.
Another aspect of the play that I was very impressed with, was that the cast (9 members) play six generations of family members, and people in their lives. Consequently one actor will be playing many parts, both incredibly different in character and age, yet it was so credible that a fifty-something year old actor could go from playing a grandfather to a child, and both were as believable as each other.
A highlight for me, is the 'hippy' scene. The characters are living in a communal home and are having their weekly meeting to raise issues of concern but have to speak in turn, by using 'the stone'. The manic but well choreographed movements along with the comedy just make for a spectacular scene.
Written by Tanya Ronder and directed by Rufus Norris; this special play family, heritage, and one precious piece of furniture is, without-a-shadow of a doubt, a must-see!