At the opening night of Fun Home, the Royal Exchange Theatre showcased its finest with a production of emotional depth, inventive staging, and exceptional performances from the entire cast. Structured around memory, the play features three Alisons at different ages, exploring heavy themes of family dysfunction, sexuality, and grief. The minimalist set, clever lighting, and fluid transitions between memories are perfectly staged in the Royal Exchange's in-the-round space.
Exceptional Performances
Jodie McNee as Adult Alison delivers a performance that embodies the essence of the play, with laugh-out-loud hilarity and heart-wrenching pathos, guiding the audience through the story with emotional clarity. Nigel Harman, playing Alison's dad Bruce Bechdel, is absolutely brilliant and deeply affecting with his violent mood swings.
The young cast—Harriet O'Shea as young Alison, Reuben Shepherd as John, and Theo Wake as Christian—bring the house down with their energy, humour and warmth, especially in the set piece around and in an open coffin in their dad's funeral parlour.
Musical Score
Jeanine Tesori's score is jazzy, witty, melancholic, and propulsive, with numbers like "Changing My Major to Joan" and "Raincoat of Love" being audience favourites.
I confidently give Fun Home the highest recommendation. This Royal Exchange production is powerful, beautifully performed, and one of the venue's standout shows in recent years. To book visit the Royal Exchange Theatre website. On until Saturday, August 1, at Royal Exchange Theatre, St Ann's Square, Manchester.
