Review - On Golden Pond at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

On Golden Pond

Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton

Review by Alison Norton

Hart to Hart star and famous redhead Stefanie Powers stars at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre this week in an outstanding production of Ernest Thompson's On Golden Pond.

Possibly best known as the film starring real-life father and daughter, Henry and Jane Fonda, this is a tale of complex family relationships set against the backdrop of picturesque Maine.

Eighty year old Norman and teenager Billy form an unlikely friendship, while Ethel, attempts to heal life-long wounds between Norman and his daughter, Chelsea.

Richard Johnson is superb as the hapless Norman and as his character unfolds, the audience come to understand his ways and feel genuine affection for him.

Elizabeth Carling as his errant daughter, Chelsea, is suitably defiant, while local actor, Tom Roberts, from Walsall, delights in playing to a home crowd.

Graeme Dalling as Billy provides plenty of laughter as he and Norman converse in teenage patter.

Miss Powers gives a wonderfully understated performance as Ethel, with an exceptionally strong characterisation of the role without dominating the whole piece, and the natural coupling between Powers and Johnson provides a perfect snapshot of real life.

With excellent direction by Michael Lumney, On Golden Pond will undoubtedly set your mind thinking about the passage of time and living for today.

Runs until Saturday.