Set in a 1980s New York apartment, Daytona focuses on the lives of three septuagenarians with a history that goes beyond the realms of marriage and sibling squabbles. Their joint experiences in a concentration camp gradually contextualises the characters to the audience.
Actor John Bowe’s character Billy, the charismatic brother to the more subdued Joe played by Harry Shearer, gives the play zest and vigour. Both Joe and Elli (played by the awesome Maureen Lipman) anchor the performance with their homely front.
Ballroom dancing seems to be the glue that binds the couple and cleverly provides an insight into their structured life. Of course, there emerges the presence of an undercurrent of passion and a tumultuous past as the play unfolds.
My love of a good set was satisfied with detail down to condensation on the windows and a 1970’s décor designed to reflect an older generation living in the 1980s, a humorous touch with just the right amount of retro.
However, I felt the play was lengthy and it occasionally felt like the actors were struggling with a rather bulky script, with a couple of unnecessarily long soliloquies. If you can look beyond that then this could provide something deep and thought-provoking for the long winter nights ahead.
Until Saturday
