One of England's greatest living playwrights, with over 80 plays to his name already, Ayckbourn is synonymous with comedy and family entanglements, and that is exactly what this play, A Small Family Business, deals with in huge dollops.
A rather farcical situation is set up - The brother-in-law to the present founder and director of a furniture manufacturing company is given a directorship and control of the company,and in his acceptance speech talks about being incorruptible and open and honest in the business totally unaware that the entire family (and possibly entire workforce) are engaged in illegal trade dealings with a group of mafia-styled Italian businessmen from Milan.
What should have been an hilarious satire sadly gained only one laugh the whole evening - and that was when, in the second act, a cat fight over Mr. Hough and his suitcase of money ensued and Mr. Hiugh's subsequent rather unrealistic dispatch to another life. The directing of this play, by Neil Cooper, was very much at odds with the style and feel of the play, and it was given a seriousness and gravitas that was never intended. Sadly, what also hindered was the actual staging too. An extremely long stage meant that action taking place on one side was lost (almost) from those seated on the other; and why, oh why were all the chairs all pointing directly out to the audience? Most unnatural. Even when a family meeting was called, the cast sat in one long row along the front of the stage saying their lines directly to the audience member facing them!
Entrances and exits were unclear, as cast walked behind a scene taking place, clearly visible, and yet, ostensibly not a part of that scene, and the same set was used without change for many different locations.
Theatre M21 is an amateur company based, as the name suggests, in the postcode area of Manchester 21, and I do believe that all on stage this evening gave of their best and praise and credit should be given to them for bringing about different and interesting characters. Dan Sandler as protagonist Jack did well in keeping the ship afloat, and his dogged determination to put things right and stay out of trouble nicely handled; whilst his slimy evil nemesis The Private Detective Hough (Ash Patel) was suitably obsequious. However, what should have been a mild political satire and rip-roaring farcical comedy was set at a funerial pace with very stilted and unnatural direction. Most unfortunate.
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 13/9/18
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