Review: Here We Are

Booker Prize winning English writer Graham Swift is a contemporary of Ian McEwan. I found myself reminded of McEwan’s On Chesil Beach as the story evolved.

Both are set in a similar period, as England moved into the 1960s and both focus on the minutiae of domestic drama and the eloquent writing styles create perfect, if at times heart-breaking, vignettes of young love.

However, unlike the bleak and grey setting of McEwan’s seaside town, Here We Are is set in Brighton during the summer of 1959 when the season is in full swing and the love triangle at the heart of the story is made up of three emerging stars of the theatre at the end of the pier.

Magician Ronnie, who goes by the stage name Pablo, and his beautiful assistant Evie (Eve, on stage) are drawing the crowds. Compere Jack Robbins or better known as Jack Robinson (as in ‘before you can say’) has the audience in the palm of his hand as he holds the show together.

I initially assumed that it was born showman Jack whose story we were set to explore, however, as the narrative unfolded, it was the enigmatic Ronnie who emerged as the more intriguing. Born to Agnes and Sid, in Bethnal Green in the East End, Ronnie was the only son of a charwoman and merchant seaman. World War II proved pivotal for young Ronnie as the youngster was evacuated to the home of retired magician Eric Lawrence and his wife, Penny, whose childless arms warmly embraced the lad and set him on his future course.

Meeting Jack in the post-war army steered Ronnie’s destiny towards Brighton and, in the few short weeks of the summer in which the main story takes place, his fate and fortune change course once more with profound impact on all concerned.

The only slight grumble was that in order to fully realise Ronnie’s character, Ellie and Jack felt underdeveloped and one-dimensional by comparison. But the elegant and lyrical prose swept that feeling away as I stepped back in time and enjoyed the show. 

Reviewed by Maryanne Vagg