The Good Dad by Gail Louw is a dark drama based on real events reported in 1988. The shocking story of a father using his power over one of his daughters and manipulating and turning her against the rest of the family for his own pleasure and perverse needs.
Sarah Lawrie performs the play with the compassion innocence and contempt the storyline deserves she brings to life Donna and her sister alongside their mother, who is in complete denial about her husband’s behaviour and puts all the blame onto her daughter and never once protected her or blamed her husband for anything that took place.
The circle of abuse is only broken when after having four children with her father, he then turns his attention to their oldest daughter. Who is now thirteen, the same age she was when his attention turned to her? She decides enough is enough and that history will not repeat itself. She took fate into her hands to protect her daughter in the way her mother never protected her.
This play is not an easy watch and there are times when you cannot quite comprehend what you are listening to because it is Beyond comprehension in a normal functioning family his actions aren’t forgivable Yet the mother seems to forgive him no matter what.
However uncomfortable the storyline I believe this is a play that deserves to be seen and for people to understand that these situations exist and that those who take matters into their hands are not necessarily criminals. This is a perfect example of diminished responsibility in my opinion.
For more information about this production please use the link below.
Five Stars.
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/good-dad-a-love-story
https://www.gov.uk/report-child-abuse
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/reporting-abuse/report/
https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/responding/reporting/how/
Theatre, Art and Film Reviews 
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