11: 2002 - The Anniversary

This was a black comedy set in the home of the dreadful Mother. Built by her family firm of North London cowboy builders in the sixties, it is a shrine to her monumental and terrible ego. Everything about it is supposed to be an awful, overwhelming combination of her own personal taste - or lack therof! The set itself is again a fairly standard box, unusual only in the inclusion of a piano (borrowed from the main hall) so her sons can perform their party pieces to entertain her. Other than that, it was mostly down to props to fill every surface with rather nasty kitsch ornamentation to give that "over the top" sentimental feel to proceedings.

As an aside, the left back wall shows quite clearly why it is stage paintings generally have no glass in them and mirrors are best avoided: the reflections play havoc with lighting schemes and, depending where the offending item is located, can be impossible to dial out. In such circumstances it is better to have the glare pointed upstage rather than sending a dazzling light straight out into the audience...