On Golden Pond @ Darlington Civic

A heart-warming, genuine and sincere look at the autumn of life

It’s not very often that a play comes along for which I have no pre-conceived ideas.  Even less so when the story, and the film, has received such plaudits as Tony’s, Oscars and international acclaim but I can honestly say I had no clue what to expect when I settled down at the Civic to watch Ernest Thompson's 1979 play.

 The story, for any of the few who are as out of touch as I, centres around a married couple’s annual summer retreat to their lodge on Golden Pond.  There’s no dynamic plot, there’s no contrived drama or conflict but there is realness to the writing which just draws you in.  The audience was very varied but this play appeals to all ages; I took my daughter Jess and she related to the story just as easily as I did and those around us.  Those of a similar age to the characters will recognise themselves, those of my age can see their parents and for the youngsters in the seats (like Jess) they can see their grand-parents up there on stage.  Set with just one scene, the ambient sounds and great scenery very quickly draw you in and it’s easy to forget you’re sat in the theatre.

 The stars of the show, Stefanie Powers and Richard Johnson, deliver with consummate ease, the delightful story of a man, Norman, and wife, Ethel, who have grown so complete together that they have almost become as one.  It’s not just the finishing off of each others sentences, but more the unconditional acceptance they have for each other’s foibles, idiosyncrasies and traits.  Their lives have become intertwined and defined by their time on Golden Pond, and it is this which makes for a more acute awareness of the encroaching and indefatigable changes of old age.  All too often I found myself thinking, “Will we be like this in years to come” and my answer was a resounding “I hope so!”

 Simple things, like forgetting the way to the woods where they have walked for 40 years serve only too well to remind us all that our time here is but fleeting.  Norman, brilliantly played with ascorbic tongue and dismissive hand waves, is so consumed with his end of days that at first he seems very morbid, however as the play continues you can see inside the character and realise that his incessant fascination about dying is actually a front to deflect from his real fear of growing old with regrets.

 The introduction of their middle aged and slightly estranged daughter, Chelsea, (played by Elizabeth Carling) only serves to remind Norman that time is short and maybe he should ‘stop and smell the roses’ every now and then.  Of course, after 40 odd years, he is not going to simply drop his guard and proclaim love for the prodigal daughter, but an enforced encounter with her 14 yr old step son suddenly gives Norman more reason to live than he thought possible.

 This is a wonderful play on quite a short tour – if you get the chance go and lose yourself on Golden Pond, you’ll love it there