REVIEW: Chester Theatre Company, “Big Big Sky”

Chester Theatre Company, Chester, MA

https://chestertheatre.org

through August 18, 2024

by C. L. Blacke

Photo by Andrew Greto

From London, UK to Chester, MA comes “Big Big Sky,” a tender reflection on grief, community, and the healing power of nature. Tom Wells’ play is set in the seaside village of Kilnsea, East Yorkshire, where everyone knows each other and favorite pastimes include line dancing and bird watching. The action is staged solely in Angie’s Cafe, only open during tourist season, and is a haven for lost souls seeking respite and new beginnings.

It’s no wonder, then, that Angie (Meghan Maureen McDonough,) is the anchor of this play, providing comfort to her patrons with a pot of peppermint tea and plate of pasty and beans. She is the consummate nurturer, cheerleader, and symbol of eternal optimism, despite her own problems. McDonough brings in spades her experience in stage, film, and television while also bringing the house to tears in a powerful scene fraught with raw emotion.

As Angie watches, locals, Lauren and father Dennis (Equity actors Hero Marguerite and James Barry, respectively) play out their family drama as only a headstrong young woman and a father entombed in misery can—with barbs and general avoidance. Barry’s performance lends everything to this story—the neurotic fragility of a grieving husband, the unshakable strength of a father when needed most, and even a proper Yorkshire accent. The gravity of Barry’s performance remains onstage even when he doesn’t.

In Lauren’s rare moment of vulnerability, Marguerite, a Berkshire Theatre Awards Nominee, sings a haunting song while in search of human connection that she hasn’t felt since her mother’s death.

Enter Ed (Abuzar Farrukh), the newcomer in search of a job, who is a self-affirmed vegan, nature enthusiast, and simpleton. Always a delight, Farrukh, who starred in last year’s “Guards at the Taj,” excels in portraying Ed’s childlike wonder and playfulness and brings a slice of cheeky humor, great compassion, and a vegan brownie into the mix.

Director James Warwick’s love for this story and familiarity with the Yorkshire country as a native of England is evident throughout. His use of ballad “Scarborough Fair,” adapted by Nathan Leigh, sets the melancholy tone, while the quintessential English cafe, designed by Ed Check, provides a cheery juxtaposition for the characters to move about both naturally and with purpose. Nothing about this production seems staged or overlooked. “Big Big Sky” has a big big heart and the perfect play for any Anglophile.