Please note the OXFRINGE version is a new shorter rewrite. Running time is around 50 minutes with no interval.
Inspired by producer Chris Wilmshurst’s own genealogy, ‘A Tender Mother’ brings to life the trial of Sarah Wilmshurst, for the murder of her three month old child in 1743. (Chris) Wilmshurst, an Abingdon local, is apparently also the writer (according to the local paper), but has written under the pseudonym Kit Hyrst.
‘A Tender Mother’ juxtaposes present-day life with London in the 1740s, alternating between a lively tea-time family discussion and the rather dire Old Bailey trial in 1743. The script is innovative, using the discussion of what the father has discovered about his family tree as a fluid jumping off point to explore the details of the trial and of Sarah’s life. Wilmshurst/Hyrst relies on actual transcripts from the Old Bailey for the trail scenes, and uses the same actor in both the present-day, as the distant relative Ellen, and in 1743, as the accused Sarah, with great effect.
One minor distraction was confusion over the present day characters, in terms of their relationship to each other (there may have been a step-mother involved, and possibly a cousin), not to mention real-life Wilmshursts playing versions of themselves. I would also say the extended and somewhat inane scene-setting discussions were perhaps unnecessary (though I’m sure true-to-life), as was the occasional a bit of repetition between characters’ lines, but overall the story was interesting, well put together and lively.
Of particular mention is Rachel Wilmshurst, who gave an excellent performance as Ellen/Sarah Wilmshurst, even managing some genuine tears. The amateur cast was generally of high calibre, though there was some variability in terms of delivery (particularly with respect to the volume and control – the OFS is a relatively small space and it is easy for actors to be overpowering!). The set was simple but effective, with a few key pieces such as the family photograph and the court stand, as well as the clever hiding of the jail bars, revealed for the final scene. The mournful cello music was also a good scene setter.
It’s an interesting and educational historical account as well as being a thought provoking experience in terms of one’s own genealogy. A must for all fans of the ‘BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are’!
Running time is approximately 110 minutes, including a 20 minute interval.