It is not often these days that you come across a play which manages to remain upbeat and engaging for over 2 hours. Fortunately, The Memory Of Water by Shelagh Stephenson does exactly this. A beautifully crafted play filled with enigma and murky humour wrapped tightly around its personal and thought-provoking heart.

The Memory of Water follows three sisters on the eve of their mother's funeral. Whilst waiting for the day to arrive, each one travels through an assortment of emotions, at times struggling to remain the people they have re-invented themselves as, frequently reverting back to hilarious outbursts of sibling rivalry and adult tantrums. Each character has their own memories of their shared childhood that never seem to match up. Catherine played by Molly Innes struggles to accept that her childhood was in anyway as privileged as her two older sisters and as a result enjoys taking on the role of the victim. She delivers this character with a sharp, honest wit which brings much comedy to the play and receives much empathy from its audience.

However it must be noted that Muriel Romanes' vision is essentially what brings this production to life, with seamless moves, a strong cast and excellent interpretation, presentation and characterisation.

This joint production from Stellar Quines, the Tron Theatre in Glasgow and the Byre Theatre in St. Andrews explores the complicated relationships between mother and daughter, sisters and transitions into adulthood, whilst also gently tapping into relationships between the sexes. This is all performed and communicated in a highly funny and touching manner, creating a beautifully uplifting and rich play which leaves a sweet nostalgic taste long after it's finished.

Highly recommended.