CORINA Rodney’s play seeks to give contemporary relevance to the true story of the four Darlington brothers decorated for gallantry in the First World War, of whom only one survived.

Raising “issues” such as patriotism, duty and self-sacrifice, and with dialogue overly packed with facts and often a moralising tone, it seems more concerned to stimulate discussion about heroism linked to class and upbringing than with letting the characters come alive as themselves.

In the opening imagined conversation, Thomas, ageing eldest brother and sole survivor, meets Sixties’ history student, Joe King, who has improbably found one of the family medals in a junk shop and arranged to return it.

Product of a softer upbringing and imbued with peacenik ideology, Joe is the foil against which Chris Connel as Thomas declaims and defends different values.

Alternating between two periods disjoints the action and makes for a series of sketches. The second act, when there is less speechifying and greater focus on individuals, works best.

Justin McDonald switches seamlessly from playing Joe to youngest brother, Roland, already a Brigadier General when killed aged 25. His charity shown to displaced French peasants and concern for the men in his battalion reveal a young man full of humanity beyond his years.

Home on leave, second son George (Micky Cochrane) voices torment in a harrowing account of war, while naval officer James (Jamie Brown) epitomises them all in his final moments under fire.

Jessica Johnson as their mother Amy and Nancy, briefly married to James, receiving his belongings piecemeal, like “pain in parcels”, raises the play to heart-rending levels.

Special effects and staging under Psyche Stott’s direction are good. Doubling up of roles allows for light relief, notably when two privates balk at being ordered to sunbathe naked during a lull in hostilities.

Performances continue until Saturday, September 17.

Pru Farrier