The Bargain by Ian Curteis

Usually our theatre choice is determined by the play, with the Bard, Wilde and opera as favorites. But sometimes it is the actors influencing our choice. So it was when we chose to see a modern play starring Susan Hampshire. We had enjoyed her so much in The Lady in the Van we risked a play first performed only two months ago.

It is an imaginative piece of writing about what might have taken place when Mother Theresa visited Robert Maxwell (Michael Pennington). Both wanted something form the other. Maxwell was the more ruthless bargainer, to the point of blackmail, but Theresa was the more skillful, harder, bargainer who got her way in the end. To our surprise, Susan Hampshire did not play Mother Theresa but her personal assistant, Sister. She was too tall for Theresa played by Anna Calder-Marshall . The cast was completed by Maxwell's Sidekick as he was known, played by Jonathan Coy.

This was a very enjoyable evening. A fascinating story superbly acted. It explored the strengths and weaknesses of all four characters in the cast in a very witty and humorous way. Excellent. See it if you can