Cat On A Hot Tin Roof - Royal Exchange Theatre

Family strife - Cat On A Hot Tin Roof at the Royal Exchange

TO say certain members of the Pollitt clan are going through challenging times would probably rank as understatement of the year.

Brick is married to Maggie who tries and tries and tries some more to re-ignite the passion in their marriage, despite the ageing sports star insisting he can no longer stand the sight of her and seeking solace in the booze bottle.

Add to the mix his very well heeled father Big Daddy, a man so tactless it’s a miracle his wife has endured him for so many years as he delivers a string of barbs and insults to anyone who happens to rile him. But Big Daddy is nursing a secret and beneath his bluster lies a certain and expected vulnerability.

Then we have Gooper, Brick’s brother who might be about to take advantage of Brick’s alcohol addled brain and - well, no spoilers here.

Tennessee Williams’ classic is given a modern setting by director Roy Alexander Weise and it generally worked extremely well when it comes to holding my attention for three and a quarter hours including an interval.

My only moan is Weise’s use of music, which, without want to sound like an old fogey, which sounded out of place.

It may be useful to read the director’s programme notes before the play starts in which he gives a revealing and thoughtful insight into his mindset surrounding a play which Williams finished in the mid 50s and its major themes, many of which are relevant today.

Patrick Robinson gives the performance of the evening as Big Daddy - when he simply looked in my direction I flinched. But I enjoyed enjoyed Boyo Gbdadamosi and Ntombizodwa Ndllovu as Maggie, as they very convincingly picked over the bones of their relationship.

Three and a quarter hours may sound like a slog. But in the hands of a gifted director and a cast teeming with talent it’s a theatrical journey that’s well worth taking.

Highly recommended.

Tickets are available from 0161 833 9833 or royalexchange.co.uk.

Photo - Helen Murray.