Cake

Written by Sarah Woods, Directed by Emma Bernard
Performed by Jade Theatre Company
The Unity Theatre - 11th November

Reviewed by Lesley Fraser

This play dares to explore the exhilarating highs and dangerously disturbing lows of motherhood. In a fascinating comedy, Victoria Worsley plays Mum who is determined to show the audience how to make a cake despite continuous, sometimes infuriating interruptions from a doll called John and a collection of spoons that represent the children.
Steve Tiplady and Rebekah Wild bring the doll and spoons to life with incredible skill and have the audience falling off their seats in laughter. The cast of spoons, doll and Mum succeed in showing how modern life can interfere with motherhood in ways that make us sit back and begin to ask questions about ourselves. Frightening questions like ‘why do I feel rage in exasperating situations whilst my child is clawing at me and begging me for a hug?’ Or ‘where do the immense feelings of love and pride come from when they learn to hug and kiss other children?’. Being a mum myself I did not get the impression that the play was specifically directed at Mums. It was delivered in such a way that the audience of mixed age and status could really appreciate what Mum and her children were experiencing.
Jade is a theatre company that has built up a unique team of designers and artists who work closely together from the earliest possible stage of a production to make it fresh and engaging. Their next production - Cassowary by Victoria Worsley (founder of Jade 1992) in collaboration with Orit Azaz - promises to be an “adventure playground of a show which combines acrobats and actors…exploring themes of adventure and risk.” (www.jadetc.co.uk)