Multi-cultural relationships, serious illnesses, disturbed teenagers, religious revelations, mid-life crises: just one of these elements, properly explored, should be enough to fill a decent drama.
A combination could also work, but any play that sees the need to use all five items is somewhat bereft of a sense of direction. In fact, it's a small miracle that the characters here don't gasp for air as they're submerged by the landslide of problems author Neil D'Souza lets fall.
Meera, a Hindu woman of a certain age, is fixated with the Virgin Mary. There is no logical reason for this, other than it allows D'Souza to transport a rag-tag family group to a caravan park next to the Catholic shrine at Knock.
The ostensible purpose of an allnight-vigil is quickly dismissed, in favour of a flat-footed look at the fractious ties that bind Meera and her son Arjun, Arjun and his Irish partner Bronagh, and Bronagh and her wildeyed daughter Sadie.
We should be thankful this is not a Little Miss Sunshine-type film, as greater technical capabilities would likely have entailed endless "comedy" road-trip moments involving the caravan and its dubious mechanics.
Instead, we're left with Chloe Lamford's clever set, which sees the back end of a real caravan protrude from its picture-postcard representation, and a raft of issues that don't get explored properly.
Sadie definitely needs a play of her own and some - any - background on the Arjun-Bronagh situation would be welcome. How, I wondered, did this unlikely couple meet in the first place?
Janice Dunn's tiring production, transferring from the Mercury, Colchester, sees the five-strong cast leave few clichés unturned. Gina Isaac as Bronagh emerges with some credit, but prayers aren't going to save this now.
Until 7 July. Information: 020 7328 1000. www.tricycle.co.uk
Small Miracle
Tricycle Theatre
Kilburn High Road, NW6 7JR
