Three Winters at The Lyttleton

I didn’t immediately book to see this new play by the Croatian playwright, Tena Stivicic, initially feeling that it wasn’t for me.  How wrong I was and how glad I am that I did eventually book tickets.  My knowledge of Croatian history could be written on one side of a postage stamp and the play emphasises the complexity of the country.  Tena Stivicic’s storytelling is also complex, moving to and fro between 1945, 1990 and 2011.  It charts the progress of one family and their changing attitudes towards Croatia’s move from Communism to Capitalism and is set in one house, almost a character in its own right.

Howard Davies directs and his and the playwright’s subtle approach give the whole thing emotional depth.  Whilst there is very much a political backdrop to the whole proceedings, the play isn’t bogged down by it.  A slow burner to begin with, the excellent performances and humorous light touches ensure the audience soon gets involved.  Although it isn’t immediately clear who is who and what is what, the various strands eventually weave together and we begin to understand what makes this family of strong females tick.

We’re first introduced to Rose, her baby Masha and mother Monika.  Rose is made of stern stuff and because of her closeness (we’re never totally sure of how close) to a general in Tito’s army is able to take advantage of Communism’s property grab.  The house, or at least a room in the house, that she has chosen, is the one in which she was born.  Monika was a servant to the family who originally owned the house and we soon realise that, Karolina, a member of this aristocratic family is still there, in hiding. 

When we jump to 1990, Rose has just died, leaving the house inhabited by her daughter, Masha, two grand-daughters Alisa and Lucia, son-in-law Vlado and Karolina.  The backdrop is the bloody break-up of Yugoslavia and how everyone will be affected.

When the family is visited in 2011, it’s the eve of Lucia’s marriage to a capitalist property man.  Alisa, now a liberal minded PhD student is visiting from England in order to attend the wedding and we’re left in no doubt that the two sisters are like chalk and cheese.  There is talk of evicting the tenants of the house and whilst Alisa abhors the idea, Lucia is all for it.

There are excellent performances throughout.  Siobhan Finneran imbues Masha with a quiet resilience.  She will endure no matter what.  James Laurenson is very effecting as Rose’s surviving old soldier husband, Alexander, whilst Jodie McNee as Alisa and Sophie Rundle as Lucia excellently portray the two modern-day sisters with such conflicting views.

Praise must also be heaped upon the Designer Tim Hatley who, with the clever use of newsreel footage displayed on shifting screens, skilfully and effortlessly changes the scenes backwards and forwards.

The two hours, forty minutes don’t drag for one minute and what a treat to watch an excellent domestic drama with a beginning, middle and end, beautifully acted and staged.