The Memory of Water review – blackly funny look at sisters fighting for a dead mother's love

Shelagh Stephenson's 'The Memory of Water' is a blackly funny exploration of three sisters forced together by their deceased mother's passing. The play centers on their divergent emotional needs, with each sister harboring a childlike neediness that manifests in different ways.

Teresa, the eldest, plays the role of a devoted caregiver, but her narrative of martyrdom and second-best status is precarious, as she struggles to be recognized by her family. Victoria Brazier brings an austere and brittle quality to the character, capturing Teresa's fragile emotional state.

Catherine, the middle sister, is the baby of the family, and her perpetual need for coddling takes center stage. Helen Flanagan's portrayal is marked by babbling self-absorption, as Catherine yearns for reassurance on her looks, health, and desirability. The character's vulnerability is palpable, making her relatable and endearing to the audience.

Mary, the 39-year-old sister, embodies the complexity of a high-flying career and unfulfilled emotional needs. Polly Lister brings a sense of vulnerability and cleverness to the role, highlighting Mary's struggles to be understood by her family.

The play's central figure, Vi, is the mother herself, whose untimely death sets the sisters on their journey of self-discovery. Vicky Binns brings Vi back to life, imbuing the character with a sense of neediness and longing for value from her daughters.

Stephenson skillfully weaves together themes of memory, grief, and redefinition as the sisters navigate their complicated emotions in the aftermath of Vi's passing. The play deftly avoids sentimentality, instead embracing its dark humor to explore the complexities of female relationships and the fragility of human emotions.

Under Lotte Wakeham's direction, 'The Memory of Water' is a bittersweet production that masterfully balances the sisterly dynamics, bringing forth a reflective and poignant exploration of what it means to redefine oneself in the face of loss.

I just watched this play with my family and I gotta say, it was super emotional . I think the actress who played Catherine (the middle sister) did an amazing job capturing her character's neediness. It made me think about how we as parents try to balance being supportive and giving our kids everything they want while also teaching them independence.

As a parent, it's hard not to get drawn into your child's drama and self-absorption . But at the same time, you have to remind yourself that they're going to grow up one day and need to figure things out on their own. I love how this play showed the different ways each sister struggled with these emotions in her own way.

I'm so glad I got to share this experience with my family... it really made us talk about our own relationships and how we can support each other better . Overall, I think this play is a must-see for anyone who's ever felt the weight of responsibility or struggled to define themselves in their relationships.

I'm loving this play ! It's like, I get why people say sisters can be super draining, but at the same time, I kinda love how messed up they are . The way Shelagh Stephenson writes their emotions, it's like you're right there with them, feeling all the feels . And what's crazy is how each sister's needs are so different, but still super connected . It's like, Teresa's trying to be this selfless caregiver, Catherine's just a hot mess , and Mary's got her whole career thing going on... I mean, who hasn't struggled with those things? But what really gets me is how Vi, their mom, brings it all together – she's like the glue that holds their emotions in check . And let's be real, this play isn't afraid to get dark and funny at the same time . Lotte Wakeham's direction is pure magic . I'm totally obsessed with 'The Memory of Water' right now!

Omg, just saw this play 'The Memory of Water' and I'm still reeling from the emotions The way the playwright explores the complex relationships between these three sisters is like, SO relatable I mean, who hasn't felt like they're stuck in a rut and struggling to be recognized by their loved ones? Teresa's character is like, so brave for speaking out about her feelings, but at the same time, Catherine's vulnerability is making me feel all the feels And can we talk about Mary's character for a sec? She's literally the epitome of balance between career and emotional needs - goals! Vicky Binns' portrayal of Vi is giving me life too... she's like, this fierce matriarch who just wants to be seen and loved Lotte Wakeham's direction is pure magic - it's like the whole cast is singing in harmony

I loved how this play tackled the complexities of female relationships and grief . The way each sister's emotional needs were so uniquely manifested was mind-blowing for me . I think what really stood out was the way it avoided sentimentality and instead went for that dark humor, which made the whole thing feel really real . And Vicky Binns' portrayal of Vi was just perfect - she brought this sense of longing and neediness that made you want to cry . The cast did an amazing job of bringing these characters to life too . Lotte Wakeham's direction was so clever in balancing out the sisterly dynamics... I'm still thinking about it days after seeing it

I gotta say, Shelagh Stephenson's play sounds super interesting . I love how it delves into the complexities of female relationships and the fragility of human emotions. The way the three sisters' emotional needs are portrayed is really relatable, especially Catherine's need for coddling - it's like we've all been there, right?

But what I'm not entirely sold on is how the play balances its dark humor with more serious themes. I mean, I get that it's supposed to be a "blackly funny" exploration of grief and loss, but can't it just lean into one tone or another? Sometimes I think that balancing both can feel like a bit of a cop-out .

Still, with a talented cast like this, I'm willing to give it a shot. The chemistry between the sisters must be electric, and Vicky Binns' performance as their mom Vi sounds amazing . Overall, I think 'The Memory of Water' is going to be a really powerful exploration of what it means to redefine oneself in the face of loss .

I'm loving this play so far! Shelagh Stephenson's writing is like a dark chocolate cake - rich, witty, and totally captivating. The way she explores the complexities of female relationships is both heartbreaking and hilarious at the same time. I mean, who hasn't felt like a fragile, needy mess sometimes? And I love how the play avoids sentimentality, instead embracing its weirdness to tackle some tough themes. What's also really interesting is how each sister's character is so expertly crafted to make you feel for them - even when they're being super annoying ! The direction by Lotte Wakeham just brings it all together beautifully. Can't wait to see what the rest of this production has in store for us...

I just found out about this play and I gotta say, I'm intrigued . I love how it explores the complex relationships between sisters, especially when one mom passes away. It sounds so relatable, you know? Like, who hasn't had to deal with someone being super clingy or needy at some point? I'm curious about the dark humor aspect, though - I've never seen a play like that before . The cast seems really talented too! I'll have to keep an eye out for it... hopefully they'll come to my city soon

OMG u guys, I just saw this play "The Memory of Water" & it's SO deep ! The sisters' struggles with their emotions & neediness is like relatable on a whole nother level . I loved how Shelagh Stephenson didn't shy away from the dark humor tho, it made it feel super real. And Vicky Binns as Vi was perfection! The way she brought back to life this character who's just so... needy . Lotte Wakeham's direction was genius too, she got that balance between sisterly drama & bittersweet vibes . Definitely going to recommend this one to my friends

I'm so done with all this "dark humor" nonsense . I mean, what's wrong with a good ol' fashioned happy ending? This play is just too focused on being "bittersweet" and "poignant" - can't it just be fun for once?! The whole thing feels like it's trying too hard to be "edgy" and "complex". Newsflash: sometimes, simplicity is the best medicine! And what's up with all these characters having such major daddy issues? Can't they just get along already?!

This play is literally SO relatable rn! I mean, we've all had those family gatherings where you feel like you're walking on eggshells because one wrong move can lead to drama. But what I love about this production is how it tackles the complexities of female relationships in a way that's both heartbreaking and laugh-out-loud funny. The cast is on point - Helen Flanagan as Catherine is giving me all the feels with her annoying-but-relatable portrayal , and Polly Lister's Mary is just so... human . And can we talk about Vicky Binns' performance as Vi? She's bringing back memories of my own drama-filled family gatherings . Lotte Wakeham's direction is pure perfection - it's like she got the emotional essence of these characters and bottled it up in this beautifully dark play . I need to see this ASAP!

I can totally relate to how it feels when you're trying to take care of everyone else but nobody sees your worth Teresa's struggles sound so real... like she's just trying to be seen and heard but nobody is paying attention Meanwhile, Catherine's just being her adorable, needy self and Mary's over here killing it with that high-flying career but still feeling so unfulfilled And then there's Vi... my heart is literally breaking for her I love how the play tackles all these heavy emotions without getting too sappy. It's like Shelagh Stephenson just got us, you know? The dark humor in this production is everything and more

Ugh I just watched this play 'The Memory of Water' with my school mates and I'm still reeling from it The way Shelagh Stephenson explores the complex relationships between sisters is literally so raw and honest, it's like they're speaking straight to your soul . I mean, can you relate to feeling like you're being taken for granted or not good enough? It really hits home when you think about how our own school dynamics play out sometimes... the popular girls vs those on the fringes, the drama between classmates... it's all so relatable . Anyway, the acting was insane and I'm loving the themes of grief, memory, and redefinition – it's like they're speaking directly to us students who are navigating our own identities .

LOL @ how these sisters are all messed up , I mean, who hasn't had a mom like Vi, right? Anywayz, Shelagh Stephenson is a total genius for tackling this dark comedy thing. The way she weaves together grief, memory, and redefinition is super clever. I love how the play doesn't shy away from the messy stuff, but still manages to be funny , it's like, who hasn't felt like they're just trying to adult when really they're just winging it? The cast is on point too, Helen Flanagan as Catherine is like, so cringe-worthy in a good way . And Polly Lister as Mary is all like, "Girl, I gotchu" . Lotte Wakeham's direction is pure magic .

this play sounds super intense but also kinda relatable? like my own sibs were always so extra with each other when we were growing up i love how it explores those complex female relationships, you know? and Shelagh Stephenson's writing is just masterful - she nails the way our emotions can be both beautiful and messy at the same time what i'm curious about is how this play is tackling the theme of grief and redefinition... is it a message that we should be trying to redefine ourselves in the face of loss, or is it more about accepting who we are and moving forward?

I think what I love most about this play is how it pokes fun at these super relatable female relationships . Like, who hasn't felt like they're constantly seeking validation from their family or partners? It's so honest and realistic, but also really darkly comedic . And the way it explores grief and self-discovery... I was genuinely invested in the characters' journeys. The acting is top-notch too - Helen Flanagan's portrayal of Catherine is particularly standout . Overall, this play feels like a nuanced and unflinching look at what it means to be a woman, and I think that's something we can all get behind .

omg u guys i just saw this play "the memory of water" with my girl squad and it was SOOO emotional we were all crying like crazy and screaming at the characters for being so extra but in a good way?! idk if it's bc shelagh stephenson wrote it or what but i think the sisters' relationships are literally the most realistic portrayal of female friendships ever? like, my sis and i have our own "teresa" moment where we fight over who gets to control the wifi anyway back to the play - i loved how mary's character just got her flaws and emotional baggage out in the open bc let's be real we all can relate to that

omg, i just saw this play "the memory of water" and it was SOOO relatable , im not gonna lie, my own mom passed away when i was 25 and it felt like my sisters were talking about me lol, anyway, the way shelagh stephenson wrote the script is so clever, she got every sister's emotional neediness spot on , and vicky binns bringing vi back to life as a character who needs validation from her daughters... that was honestly super moving , what i love about this play is how it balances humor with some really heavy themes like grief and redefining yourself after loss , anyhoo, if you haven't seen this play yet, u gotta check it out, its giving me all the feels

I just saw this play "The Memory of Water" and I gotta say, it's so relatable . I mean, we've all been there with our sisters or family members where you're like, "Hey, can I get a minute?" But seriously, Shelagh Stephenson does an amazing job of exploring the complexities of female relationships and how we all need validation sometimes.

I loved how the play didn't shy away from the dark humor, it's like, life is messy, right? And the way the sisters are all flawed in different ways, but still manage to love each other... it's just so beautiful . Helen Flanagan and Polly Lister, they're like total pros, bringing their characters to life.

And Lotte Wakeham's direction is on point, it's like she gets what makes this play tick . I think what really got me was how the play explores the idea of redefining ourselves after loss... it's not always easy, but it's so necessary .

omg u think shelagh stephenson can tackle complex family issues w/ dark humor & still make u feel all the feels? i'm not sure about this one...the sisters seem super relatable, but is it just gonna be a bunch of whiny women complaining to each other? also what's up w/ all these character names that sound like they were generated by a random surname generator