It’s pleasing to see this warm, witty, if occasionally contrived celebration of female friendship pour itself a wobbling bowl of cider and settle into the West End. Di and Viv and Rose have travelled quite some way, from humble beginnings in Hampstead’s studio space, and they fully merit their promotion.
I’ve seen Amelia Bullmore’s play three times now and what still works best is the lengthier first half, which spans the three years the women share a house at university. This section takes its time to settle and delve into a somewhat unlikely friendship group, while the second half, a whistle-stop tour through the next 25 years, contains a surfeit of credulity-stretching out-and-out event. In Paul Wills’s design, a cosy living-room set gives way to the bare brick walls of the “real world”.
Di (Tamzin Outhwaite) is a sporty lesbian, Viv (Samantha Spiro) is a stern sociologist who dresses like Celia Johnson and Rose (Jenna Russell) is a delightful wide-eyed nymphomaniac. Somehow their differences don’t matter and a lifelong friendship is forged.
The performances in Anna Mackmin’s easy-going production are top-notch. Spiro’s spikiness covers fierce loyalty and Russell is a wonderfully chaotic bundle of energy. It’s an interesting decision to have fortysomething actresses play these parts; wisdom and experience are suggested but as the performers are much older than their characters, they do sometimes feel at a slight angle to the action. Even so, this is heartfelt, watchable drama. Di and Viv and Rose await the pleasure of your company.
Until Sat Mar 14 (0844 482 9675, diandvivandrose.com)
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