Salonika

Synopsis

On the haunting beaches of Salonika, Greece, the weight of history and personal grief collides as a mother and daughter confront their shared past.

Charlotte, an 84-year-old woman, and her 63-year-old daughter, Enid have a strained relationship. The two women have traveled from England to Salonika to visit the grave of Charlotte’s husband, Ben, who died during the First World War. The play interweaves their present journey with memories and fantasies, creating a poignant exploration of loss, memory, and the complexities of familial bonds.

Charlotte, full of vitality and humour, contrasts sharply with Enid, who is portrayed as a bitter martyr to her mother’s whims. Their interactions reveal deep-seated resentments and unspoken emotions. The arrival of Leonard, an old suitor of Charlotte who has hitchhiked from England, intensifies the emotional upheaval. The play shifts between reality and the characters’ inner worlds, blending the mundane with the extraordinary as they grapple with their past and present.

The play explores themes of memory, grief, and the enduring impact of history. Louise Page’s writing is noted for its emotional depth and the ability to juxtapose the ordinary with the surreal, creating a richly textured narrative that is both reflective and compelling.