The Homecoming

6/22/2025

I’ve never really seen Paul Rogers own a part anything like as strongly as he portrays the curmudgeonly old “Max” in this rather bleakest of family get-togethers. He shares their London home with his brother “Sam” (Cyril Cusack) and his two sons. “Lenny” (Ian Holm) looks like he belongs in the Gestapo, bedecked in his black leather coat, and he’s got the malevolent streak to boot. “Joey” (Terence Rigby) isn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer; a would-be boxer and usually quite oblivious to the prevailing toxicity amongst this family. Then a new sparring partner arrives. The prodigal brother “Teddy” (Michael Jayston) has returned from his professorial job in the USA to visit, and to introduce his new wife “Ruth” (Vivien Merchant). Now she is no shrinking violet in the face of this onslaught