Party Season, a new devised play by the Wardrobe Ensemble, dives into the stress-filled world of children's birthday parties, offering a broad comedy of social manners that will resonate with many parents. The show, playing at the Connaught Theatre in Worthing, follows 34-year-old Xander as he reluctantly returns to Bristol from London and navigates a weekend of three back-to-back parties for his five-year-old son.
A Comedy of Parenting Manners
Co-directed by Helena Seneca and Jesse Jones, Party Season occupies similar territory to the sitcom Motherland, exploring competitive parenting, sleep deprivation, and envy of others' homes. The production brings these themes to life through fluid, sometimes expressionist staging. A protective mother (Jesse Meadows) breathes fire, adults swap roles with children, and a mysterious entertainer serves as a spectral MC. The play is packed with sharp observations, from party games disrupted by faulty Bluetooth to a spoiled child who 'gets anxious when there's no structure.'
Narrative and Themes
While the play initially takes time to reveal its narrative direction, it eventually becomes overstuffed with themes and plot strands. The central storyline involves Xander's unresolved feelings about his late father, tenderly portrayed by Tom England and James Newton, but this seems only loosely connected to the parenting antics that dominate the action. A subplot about a missing child strains credibility, though the neighbourhood WhatsApp group scenes are funny and deftly staged on Bronia Housman's balloon-patterned set.
Despite its imperfect structure, Party Season leaves a lasting impression with its bold vision. It captures children trapped in parents' bodies and parents reeling at the transformations in their lives, highlighted by Kerry Lovell's fantastic monologue about animal reproduction. The play tours to the Lowry in Salford (12-16 May) and Bristol Old Vic (21-23 May).
