3 Winters, National Theatre ****

 Anyone who finds Dara's storyline jumpy and sporadic, as clearly the majority of the critics did, they must have been extremely confused by Tena Štivičić's new play about the development of Croatia told through one household in three time periods. The way Tim Hatley's set design makes the transition from each time period is extraordinary and the use of projections show the audience what the family is really arguing about. Stylistically, the play reminds me of Chekov's Cherry Orchard wth the ivy representing the journey this family is taking. The one major problem, in my opinion, is how an important domestic violence scene is handled. Due to the rather simple and amateurish fight work given by Terry King, that part of the story disintegrates as you are brought of this world Davies and the playwright has created rather masterfully. Performances are, as always with the National, exceptional. The main familiar face Siobhan Finneran is impressive showing Masha in two stages of life, creating a fully three dimensional character. The rest of the cast also help to show a family at war, showing a very different side to world war two than many are aware of. Hytner's National is superb at including pieces from all cultures and here is yet another shining example of the work this theatre has done to make this a truly 'National' theatre.