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In How the Other Half Loves, Alan Ayckbourn demonstrates his mastery of traditional comedy. Split-second timing and miscommunication drive the plot in this deftly written, fast-paced comedy of manners. The production is a collaboration between the Welsh College of Music and Drama and the Torch Theatre. The Artistic Director of the Torch, Peter Doran, will direct the production and Torch designer Sean Crowley will be the design supervisor. Peter explained why this is an important collaboration for the Torch:- I've worked at the Welsh College of Music & Drama quite a lot over the years, it gives me a chance to check out the talent that will be leaving in July, not just acting talent but also designers, stage-managers, scenic artists etc. The College has a good reputation and the students always seem to do well, several graduates end up at the Torch every year: in the last few years I've directed Julian Lewis Jones who is now playing the lead in Where The Heart Is; Claire Calbraith the female doctor in Heartbeat; Naomi Radcliff, who played Kevin's girlfriend in Coronation Street before falling under the wheels of a Lorry: not to mention just about every young member of the cast of Belonging. I've no doubt that some of the cast from this play will be on our screens within a short space of time. This production will be no different from a full blown professional production apart from the fact that the actors will not be paid, in fact this will be the last thing they do before getting their Equity cards and entering the profession for real. Ayckbourn is still the master, it's a wonderful play and these young stars of tomorrow do it full justice. The action revolves around two couples, and an affair between one half of each couple. To complicate the matter further, both husbands happen to be boss and employee. Bob and Teresa Phillips no longer communicate at all. Frank and Fiona Foster are also having marital problems, although Frank doesn't know it. Both Bob and Fiona excuse long absences from home by claiming to be helping one of the Featherstones. Frank, thinking he is being helpful, invites the Featherstones to dinner on Thursday. Teresa, believing Bob is a liar, invites them to dinner on Friday. Through Ayckbourn's convention, both dinner parties are seen at the same time. The tables are set for a quick-paced roller coaster ride. Fiona Foster is the wayward upper-class wife, whose absences from home until 2am and strange behaviour, including leaving the car in the flower bed, kindles the suspicions of her sweetly bumbling husband, Frank. Sardonic Lothario Bob Phillips, who works for Frank, is the cause. Fiona's desperate phone calls trigger concern by Bob's wife, Teresa. The two lovers invoke a third couple, William and Mary Featherstone, as alibis for their whereabouts, which, of course, really gets the comedic ball rolling. The cover-up quickly falls apart as the unsuspecting William and Mary interact with the other two couples over dinner. Alan Ayckbourn is England's most prolific playwright and is reputed to be the most frequently performed writer after Shakespeare. With this play he fulfils his wish 'to persuade people that theatre can be fun'. Great fun. How the Other Half Loves will be showing at the Torch Theatre on Friday 31 May and Saturday 1 June at 7.30 pm. Tickets – priced at £7.00 [£5.50 discounts] – are available from the box office [tel: 01646 695267]. |
| Torch Theatre web site: www.torchtheatre.co.uk |
| Jane Evans e-mail: |
Monday, May 20, 2002 |
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