The Memory Of Water

by Shelagh Stephenson

A Memory of Water was Stephenson's first play, opening in London in 1996, and was awarded the prestigious Olivier Award for Best Comedy.

Three sisters meet on the eve of their mother's funeral; as the conflicts of the past converge, everyday lies and tensions reveal the particular patterns and strains of family relationships.

This Student Edition features the full text of the play and an introduction that includes a plot summary and a discussion of the themes, characters, structure, language, style and production history of the play. Notes on words and phrases in the text, questions for further study and a bibliography provide students with everything they need to study and appreicate this award-winning play.

Genres: Plays, Theatre, Humor, Comedy, Drama, Fiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Shelagh Stephenson was born in Northumberland and read drama at Manchester University. She has written several original plays for BBC Radio. These include Darling Peidi, about the Thompson and Bywater murder case, which was broadcast in the Monday Play series in 1993; a Saturday Night Theatre, The Anatomical Venus, broadcast in the following year; and Five Kinds of Silence (1996), which won the Writer's Guild Award for Best Original Drama. Her first stage play, The Memory of Water, opened at the Hampstead Theatre, London, in July 1996, and her second, An Experiment With An Air Pump, joint winner of the 1997 Peggy Ramsay Award, opened at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, in February 1998. Also Life is a Dream, and Through a Glass Darkly in 2004.

Reviews

[Kyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This play would present an excellent opportunity for some fantastic character building. There is such a rich and deeply felt history between the three sisters, regardless of whether their versions of that history sync-up, that any actor would be able to lose themselves in the backstory. And I think that is the real strength of this piece: it is a vehicle for great performances.

If I was producing this play, I would be worried that it might feel a little dated... with its British-isms and in its dry humour. I would imagine that an audience in the mid to late 1990's would get a great kick out of the taboos it puts up on stage, the talk of erections, the pot-smoking... but nowadays, I think an audience would chuckle at the jokes, not laugh. Some of the punchlines are about race and gender, which doesn't always work anymore, depending on the audience. And a lot of the laughs would depend on how far the actors would be willing to take their performances.

But it is a beautiful, touching little story. The relationships are written so well, and the family bond at the centre of the story is really very special. It certainly has its charm.

3.5/5

[Bettie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Memory of Water by Shelagh Stephenson

24/8 06:00 R4x

BBC Blurb: 4 Extra Debut. Ahead of their mother's funeral, three sisters tackle unresolved childhood conflicts and blurred memories. Stars Linda Bassett, Lesley Manville, Elizabeth Berrington.

[Anton Segers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Een moderne klassieker.
Drie zussen begraven hun moeder, dus graven hun verleden op. Elk met de eigen herinneringen.
Evalueren hun leven, de illusies en waarheden.
En dat met een verrassende mate van humor.
Met herkenbare personages en heerlijke dialogen.

[Áine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somebody please cast me in it now.

Reread: Extra star. I reiterate: Somebody PLEASE cast me in it now

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny and painful sororal conflicts at their mother's funeral.

[Kyla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the grief was depicted really well. It’s such a strange emotion and there’s no one way to experience it, but I think the humour was slightly outdated. I think this has great potential as a longer form text: the relationships could be explored in much greater detail. I think that because it was a play and so much is being condensed into a short performance that it ended up feeling rushed and certain aspects weren’t given the attention I feel they deserved.

[fifo ʚ♡⃛ɞ (reading slump) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

i read this for my drama class, however, this play was so humorous and ironic yet so emotionally moving to me. i’m so so so glad my teacher lent me this book. would recommend it for the sensitive readers who enjoy a good giggle and possibly a good teary eyed reading session.

[Flo Colton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, this made me cry...

[Charley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully dark and comedic exploration into bereavement, secrets and sisterhood.

[Libby Priestley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Storyline is funny and a little dark. Enjoyed reading and acting out Catherine’s lines… fave lines. TERREASS

[kiara skene · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
“can you feel nostalgia for something that never really existed?” (36)

[Sal · Rating 4 out of 5]

love how messy this was

[Freya · Rating 4 out of 5]

- such a full circle moment play
- truly loved it cos in the end they made up and accepted they had to give their mum away
- sad topic but it is a comedy
- perfectly shows sisters with clashing personalities that have grown up being compared to one another
- explores their relationships with eachother and with their mum

[S.R. Dixon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three sisters - perfect Mary, responsible Theresa, and wild-child Catherine - gather for their mother's funeral. On the surface, Shelagh Stephenson's play seems very much like Albee's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?". It's a sharply written piece about people badly hurting on the inside who lash out at everyone around them - and since the center of the story are three sisters, everybody knows where everybody else's really vulnerable spots are. In a poorly directed version, I can easily imagine this script being presented as two hours of people being mean to one another, but with a little more care and attention to detail, the heart and the first timid steps of healing will emerge.

[R Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Memory of Water looks at a grieving trio of sisters each trying to deal with loss, both of their mother & of the own unfulfilled images of themselves. Well written, and darkly comic, this two act play reminds me of scenes from August: Osage County and other stories of dysfunctional families looking for grace and hope in each other and in their own diluted memories. A good read with plenty of scenes for talented actresses.

[Alyse · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great play to feature actresses. I may be a bit young to play any of the there sisters, but they are all meaty and distinct. I would like to play them all someday.

The entire play takes place in the 24 hours before the burial of the sister's mother. The sisters each go through the grieving process differently. And all remember their childhood differently.

Really enjoyed it.

[Lyric · Rating 2 out of 5]

Stage Managed a staged reading of this play. It could have been the performers, but I felt like there was very little action or substance to this show. Mostly a bunch of whining talking heads. There does not seem to be much character or much of a plot... at least one that this audience member could find to care about.

[Kalee]

after watching a play and bawling through it i had to find this screenplay. The Boise Little Theater in Boise, Idaho did an amazing job. The music they played with it really fit well, "coming home' by Blow up Hollywood

[Everett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious, oh so hilarious, though not only so. Stephenson captivates from the opening dialogue and you will move up and down with her sympathetic characters until the end. This would make an excellent full-length novel. I am going to keep an eye on this writer, I see great things.

[Artep · Rating 2 out of 5]

Three very different sisters deal with their mother's death in three very different ways. Not the most innovative of texts (neither the first nor the last dealing with family issues surfacing in stressful times), but I can see it being an engaging play when cast well.

[Steven Felicelli · Rating 2 out of 5]

so formulaic I thought, "and now there's this" at every turn (ie. the title concept arises 'naturally' in conversation) - revelations, characterizations, recriminations are all well conceived and interesting in and of themselves, but they seem to arise algorithmically

[Mary Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well developed characters help make this play about siblings and their significant others coming home to bury their mother a nice read. Secrets are revealed and they find out a little more about themselves and the things we must leave behind as we grow up.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really moving play, with great emotions and satisfying dramatically.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good play. Very memorable characters, and a very interesting theme. Some genuenly funny moments. I recomend it.

[Allyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant, beautiful, one of my fav modern plays. Lots of good scenes and monologues too.

[Samantha Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved being a part of this play, it's missing something, sure. But it's got enough for an actress to sink her teeth in to

[Ana-Catrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

The current show I am directing. Beautiful, meaningful.

[Cari · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good play if you enjoy British humor. I do!