Review: On Golden Pond reaches the middle ground at Theatre Royal Windsor (From Bucks Free Press)

Review: On Golden Pond reaches the middle ground at Theatre Royal Windsor

11:35am Wednesday 22nd February 2012 in Freetime By Rachel Cook

MENTION On Golden Pond to most people and expect many loving reminiscences of Katherine Hepburn, Henry Fonda and Jane Fonda. With the film having had such an impact on culture, any production post-film was always going to be one of those plays where the actors struggle to separate themselves from the famous portrayals we all know and love.

Richard Johnson as a grumpy, exasperating, yet charming Norman Thayer Jnr managed this with aplomb, stealing the show somewhat from his fellow cast members. Stefanie Powers, best known for her role in Hart to Hart opposite Robert Wagner, was enjoyable to watch as Ethel Thayer but seemed to have studied Hepburn’s performance a little too closely to really make an impact on the role.

The production was funny, touching, schmaltzy (in a good way!) and bittersweet, exploring the complicated familial relationships between the Thayers with a lot of sensitivity. The audience, who on the whole were what Ethel Thayer would call “middle aged”, were on great form, and the clever acting and script had us all in stitches for the majority of the play.

Sidestepping some dodgy accents here and there, the supporting cast were great; particularly Graeme Dalling as Billy Ray, the cocky but loveable teenager who bonds with grumpy Norman. Overall this was an enjoyable production with a few wobbly bits, which is perhaps fitting for a play that represents the ups and downs of love, life and family.