A Taste of Honey - Royal Exchange Theatre

A Taste of Honey - photo by Johan Persson.

EVEN the weather seemed to be entering into the spirit of things, as grey clouds loomed overhead as I made my way to the theatre.

It seemed very fitting that this northern masterpiece, set against the backdrop of Salford’s long gone terraced streets, was about to be performed in a setting all too familiar to people in this area.

The world of A Taste of Honey is one of unrelenting gloom, a world in which every day is a battle for survival in which only the strong survive.

A world in which the sun never shines. Or so it seems.

It’s hard to believe Shelagh Delaney was just a teenager when she wrote this wonderful piece because she displays a wisdom and a foresight and a maturity way, way beyond her years. The play premiered in 1958 and Delaney also had the courage of her convictions to place what were then controversial issues, centre stage.

The afore mentioned issues include homosexuality, nearly 10 years before it was made legal in this country.

But I never feel lectured to or preached at. Delaney just makes you think as she tackles issues that wouldn’t raise many eyebrows today, and rightly so. Delaney just tackles them with an entertaining and intelligent manner that’s also distinctly matter of fact.

We follow the misfortunes of Jo and her promiscuous, alcoholic mother Helen. Playing these iconic roles are Rowan Robinson and Jill Halfpenny and the chemistry between them is so strong and so convincing it felt like I was watching a real life mother and daughter as they fought and argued with each other, Jo dipping into her well stocked arsenal of home truths as she puts Helen, as she calls her, in her place.

The role of Jo’s gay roommate Geoffrey is a gift for David Moorst, with poor Jeffrey fussing around the pregnant Jo with a devotion verging on the masochistic. He’s like the proverbial mother hen or as Jo put it with her characteristic lack of tact, “like an old woman.”

Director Emma Baggott has obviously nurtured her production with tender loving care and the cast do full justice to a script that is for me one of the best ever written. Some of the lines are just so good, so perfect any budding writers watching could well turn green with envy.

I enjoyed A Taste of Honey so much sitting through it again, on the same night, wouldn’t have been an ordeal. Fabulous.

Until April 13. Tickets are available from 0161 933 9833 or www.royalexchange.co.uk.

Star rating - *****