Mothers' Day/Fathers' Day Review
- hannahdelaney4
- Jun 20
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 21
Written by Giles Fernando, Mother's Day/ Father's Day is a double bill about achieving your dreams and family competition. Playing at the Drayton Arms Theatre in South Kensington, these 2 plays although by the same writer couldn't be any more different.
Mother's Day
The first piece in the double bill was Mother’s Day - a one-woman show that follows Pauline (Sarah Wanendeya) an actress who put her career on hold after an unplanned pregnancy with her daughter, Samantha. We meet Pauline later in life, in what initially appears to be a theatre dressing room but is later revealed to be the set of her upcoming role in EastEnders. From the outset, it’s clear that Pauline harbours deep resentment toward Samantha - a bitterness that only intensifies when her daughter secures a place at drama school and begins to thrive in the very industry Pauline feels she was forced to abandon.
The concept of the piece is strong, the writing engaging and at its best offers real glimpses of emotional depth, however the execution at times feels a little unpolished. The script is clearly written with care and wit but some scenes seemed to drift and the pace could do with some tightening. The humour is frequent and often very clever but with so many jokes packed in, it is easy for some to get lost or not given the space to fully land.
There were moments, however, where the play truly came alive. The standout scene for me was the afternoon tea where Wanendeya fluidly and convincingly shifted between playing Pauline, her daughter, her husband and her mother. The way she distinguished between the characters was a real showcase in her range and ability.
Mother’s Day in my opinion is a piece with a lot of potential but that fails to always hit the mark. A promising solo show that still seems to be finding its feet.
Father’s Day
The second piece Father’s Day is a masterclass in solo storytelling. We meet Joe (El Antony) who has been prevented from seeing his son Davey on Father’s Day by his ex. What begins as a tale of a desperate father quickly escalates into a high stakes thriller as he hijacks a plane in one last attempt to see his son.
The daring premise is delivered with emotional weight and a magnetic solo performance by El Anthony. The most impressive part for me is the way the piece creates tension and urgency with just one performer on stage. The high stakes and claustrophobic atmosphere that the actor builds never lets up and keeps the audience on the edge of their seats throughout. This is also a testament to Penny Gkritzapi's sharp and deliberate direction of the piece.
The addition of voiceovers, particularly the characters of Kerry (Jennifer Aries) and Captain Tom (Matt Vickery), added an extra layer to the piece and raised the stakes brilliantly. Their voices weren’t just background, they felt vital to the piece and built the world outside the cockpit. If there was to be one minor note it is that this piece could also do with some tightening and trimming.
Father’s Day is a surprising and intense piece of new writing that definitely has the legs to go further. I look forward to seeing where it goes next.
Mother's Day/ Father's Day is produced by Paradigm Productions, in co-production with the Drayton Arms Theatre, now playing until 21 June 2025.
