The Garrick Playhouse is a lovely theatre, with very comfortable seating and good sight lines wherever you're sitting, and a nice bar. It's a busy place and the car park quickly gets full but you can park for free in the adjoining streets in the evening should you only arrive near the start time.
When I go to the theatre, I always love that bit as the curtains open to reveal the world you're going to be transported into. Unfortunately, I was denied that particular pleasure as the set was visible as soon as I walked into the auditorium. It was clear, even before the action began, that we were going back to the 1970s (the play was in fact premiered in 1972). The premise of 'Absurd Person Singular' is a very simple one: 3 married couples, 3 consecutive Christmas Eves, one in each household. Hence there are 3 acts! Acts 1 and 2 were played out before it was time for a break, just short of 9pm. In my opinion, I'd have had the interval after Act 1 followed by a very short intermission at the end of Act 2 for the change of scenery. People were getting fidgety and were glad of the chance for an ice cream and to stretch their legs.
I was really impressed with the set design which included a double-sided and well constructed set on a revolve and this made for a speedy and smooth transition between Acts 1 and 2. The action starts in the Hopcrofts' kitchen with Jane (efficiently played by Ros Greenwood) and Sidney (Graham Simmonds) over fussing about making the right impression with their "posher" guests. There are definitely aspects in this show which remind you of Mike Leigh’s seminal piece, Abigail's Party.
There is a significant element of farce throughout. For instance, with people constantly coming into the kitchen then leaving again and I found this terribly distracting. When the action was focused in one place, such as the sarcastic way Marion (hilariously portrayed by Laura Chandler) “compliments” Jane and Sidney on their kitchen, it was a much more effective and enjoyable comedy.
Act 2 is set in the dingy apartment where George (Matthew Foster) and his depressed wife Eva (Kim Armston) live. You soon realise why she is having a nervous breakdown - the act opens with her desperately trying to write a suicide note - as George plays away and declares he is planning to leave Eva. As the act progresses, the two rather unwelcome couples are seemingly oblivious to Eva's attempts to commit suicide and only just manage to stop her when they eventually realise what's going on. Act 3 is in the country house kitchen of Marion - who gets progressively more drunk as the evening wears on - and Ronald (Simon Garland). He is a particularly unsympathetic character who leaves his wife languishing upstairs until she eventually appears in her fetching dressing gown.
All the costumes were appropriate for the era and the look of the play was consistent, so the designers should definitely be congratulated for that. In conclusion, all 6 actors handled the typically verbose Ayckbourn script very well, undoubtedly though, Chandler was the stand out performer. However, for me, this comedy, which ends with an overlong festive game, is as dated as the set and doesn't stand the test of time.
The play is showing nightly until Saturday December the 1st. Performances start at 7:30pm.
Reviewer - David Swift
on - 27/11/18
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