Review: The Gathered Leaves (Park Theatre)

Review by Daz Gale

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It is often the case that more drama is to be found at your own family gathering than in any play you are likely to see on the stage, so it is fitting that a family gathering is at the root of The Gathered Leaves, returning to its original home of London’s Park Theatre after a decade. Having been well received upon its initial run, would absence make the heart grow fonder, or would this family tree shed its leaves and stand a little more barren this time around?

Premiering at Park Theatre in 2015, The Gathered Leaves hasn’t been seen in the decade since, sitting idly by, remaining as nothing more than a fond memory for those who saw it… until now, that is. Marking the reunion of the Pennington family who find themselves in the same room together for the first time in 17 years, they gather to celebrate family Patriarch William’s 75^th birthday . Some have been estranged for all those years, some have never met at all, and some have long-held resentments from their past that have thus far remained unsaid, as well as the current demons that plague their own lives. Put all of this together with nine family members across three generations, and there promises to be no shortage of drama. With time running out and the strong possibility that this may be the last time all family members are in the same room together, will they be able to reconcile their differences before it’s too late?

Written by Andrew Keatley, The Gathered Leaves is a captivating look inside one family and all the varying dynamics found within. As relationships differ between multiple pairings inside the family, so too does the tone, shifting from humour to more sombre matters, all with a good dose of intrigue. As time passes over one weekend at the Pennington house, the leaves slowly drop, revealing nuggets of information from the past and what caused this family to be so fractured, as well as the problems that still plague each of them to this day. Keatley is a master at building the suspense and never revealing too much too quickly, allowing the audience to put clues together themselves, before giving them the payoff they deserve. It can be stark, honest, and even brutal at times, but its realism is a key part of the charm, and a big reason why this play connects with its audience so seamlessly.

In some ways, The Gathered Leaves is similar to another family drama that is currently wowing London audiences, Till The Stars Come Down. This snapshot into one family and what goes on behind closed doors, leaving no stone unturned, is similarly explored here. Outdated language and inappropriate comments with a racist undertone are one of the more serious themes explored early on, though seldom mentioned again following this initial conversation, while feminism and a woman’s right to choose is another recurring theme, though not dwelled upon in great detail. Far more significant is mental health, with a character with autism a strong and consistent presence throughout, with the attitudes towards him making for some uncomfortable moments, again with a use of inappropriate language, but forming the heart of the story.

Though the stage at Park Theatre is relatively small, Adrian Noble does a fantastic job of making full use of the space with a stage that extends out to the audience (gloriously designed by Dick Bird) and transforming the theatre into the Pennington’s living room. The stage regularly finds itself the home of a sparring match with two characters, standing on opposite sides of the stage. From my view at the side, watching the audience move their heads in unison back and forth as if they were at Wimbledon provided the perfect metaphor for key moments of this play. It is sport, and though that might not be a subject I know too much about, the recurring nature of fighting and jousting could well be found in a boxing ring or a tennis court as much as it could your own family’s living room.

There are two elements that make The Gathered Leaves such a sensational piece of theatre. First is Andrew Keatley’s whip-smart writing, the other is in the incredible cast that has been gathered to tell this story. Jonathan Hyde is a domineering presence as Patriarch William Pennington, often playing such an unlikable and tough character, all the while remaining captivating in his performance and offering glimpses as to why his character is like that. Joanne Pearce delivers one of the standout performances of an exceptionally strong cast as William’s wife, Olivia. Though a lot of her role is reactionary, she has the ability to pull focus and steal scenes, due to her overwhelmingly emotive and expressive portrayal.

The younger members of the Pennington family all get their own moments to shine, with George Lorimer brilliantly cheeky as Simon, Ella Dale making her presence felt in comparatively limited stage time as Emily, and Taneetrah Porter delivering a mesmerising turn as Aurelia. Both acts are bookended with younger versions of two of the characters, with Ellis Elijah and Joe Burrell delivering crucial scenes that hold the key to the play’s payoff.

Chris Larkin goes on the biggest journey in his character of Giles, acting as the go-between in a lot of the varying relationships and offering a bit of stability in an ever-shifting dynamic. His strongest scenes are when he is with his brother Samuel, in a standout performance from Richard Stirling. In his sweet and innocent characterisation, Stirling effortlessly taps into the complications and complexities of this childlike character, while never losing the heart of who he is. The result is a character and characterisation it is impossible not to fall in love with, and the most memorable turn in the play.

The Gathered Leaves is the perfect example of how to recreate a family drama with realism. Never relying on shock value, the result is an understated but continually captivating affair that speaks to the various dynamics many of us will recognise within our own families, and some wider themes that still plague society today, namely attitudes towards racism and mental health. These themes are sensitively handled, with Keatley’s writing proving sharp and impressive throughout to make a well-rounded, moving, and poignant work. This play’s second life now has something in common with the situation it finds itself in – though it’s not quite seventeen years since it was last seen, the decade between runs was far longer than it should have been. I just hope they don’t leave it quite so long next time.

The Gathered Leaves plays at Park Theatre until 20^th September. Tickets from https://allthatdazzles.londontheatredirect.com/play/the-gathered-leaves-tickets

Photos by Rich Southgate