Dodie Smith's "Dear Octopus"

Summer 2009

They've been looking forward to it so. Every living child under their roof..."

On the weekend of their Golden Wedding, the house of Charles and Dora Randolph is packed. Four generations meet when the entire family comes to visit. It is a time for celebration, but also for hopes and memories to come back, a time to face old fears and anxieties, and a time for love.

"The family... I can't seem to make up my mind whether I love it or loathe it."

It is a busy weekend, and one that wakes very different feelings in those involved. There is the 'prodigal daughter' Cynthia, reluctantly coming home for the first time after seven years; her brother Nicholas and his growing unease about getting older, together with his jealous sister-in-law Edna; great-aunt Belle, trying to make her peace with Charles, the man she still loves but couldn't marry all those years ago; or Dora's companion Fenny, who has to find out that her love for Nicholas is not such a secret as she believed it to be. Over the course of the weekend, the family members have to come to terms with their own inner quarrels, their jealousies and attitudes towards the family.

"Just love, time, change, life and what have you..."

Through the lens of the family "Dear Octopus" touches on the issues of love and loss, of coming to terms with the changes life holds in store for us and of what having a family can mean in the best of cases. Dodie Smith tells her story warm-heartedly and humorously, while never ridiculing her characters. It is her tone, light but serious, in which she describes these seemingly everyday and yet so important issues that makes "Dear Octopus" a delightful comedy and a thoughtful drama at the same time.

Directed by

Sarah Bingham

Cast

Charles Randolph - Thomas Erlinghagen

Dora Randolph - Tanja S. Romich

Their children:

Hilda Randolph - Néomi Havinga

Margery Harvey - Julia Osterbrink

Cynthia Randolph - Andrea Schmitz

Nicholas Randolph - Ben Sonntag

Their grandchildren:

Hugh Randolph - Volkan Kortak

Gwen (Flouncy) Harvey - Miriam Piel

William (Bill) Harvey - Richard Jung

Kathleen (Scrap) Kenton - Elisabeth Kuth

Their sister-in-law:

Belle Schlessinger - Ela Sonntag

Hugh's mother:

Edna Randolph - Christina Anders

Hugh's wife:

Laurel Randolph - Bettina Hürkamp

Margery's husband:

Kenneth Harvey - Stephan "Bix" Breidenbach

Dora's companion:

Grace Fenning (Fenny) - Antje Schumacher

Nanny Patching, a nurse - Johanna Schewior

Gertrude, a parlourmaid - Anke Bauer