Constant Companions - Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
Sept 12, 2023 14:01:10 GMT
drowseychap likes this
Post by mkb on Sept 12, 2023 14:01:10 GMT
The constant companions (or "Konstant Kompanions", according to the on-stage, cardboard, self-assembly box) of Alan Ayckbourn's latest (89th!) play, are androids in human form. The playwright gently teases us about human failings and limitations by contrasting our behaviour with that of the automatons JAN 90 (SJT stalwart Richard Lacey on top form) and ED (Naomi Petersen, who has less to do). There is also an impressive talking animatronic head that I suspect took a significant part of the budget.
The stage is divided into three: a bedroom, an office and an attic, all from different locations, and we are somewhere in the near future, with the office occasionally jumping ahead another twenty years or so. The actors often remain on stage when the action switches to another location, but there isn't the quick cross-cutting or simultaneous action that Ayckbourn sometimes employs.
The play tries to blend trademark humour with serious existential points about identity and being, but fails to fully deliver as comedy or thought-provoking drama. The narrative tales are rather thin too, and I was left wanting and expecting more.
It's amusing enough, but one of Ayckbourn's weaker efforts.
Three stars.
Act 1: 19:31-20:44
Act 2: 21:05-22:02
(Seen Saturday night)
On a side note, and as an Ayckbourn fan, I was disappointed to discover I had somehow managed to completely miss his plays numbered 86 (All Lies) and 88 (Welcome to the Family), as they premiered at The Old Laundry, Bowness-on-Windermere rather than in Scarborough like the rest of his canon. Please someone put them on again!
The stage is divided into three: a bedroom, an office and an attic, all from different locations, and we are somewhere in the near future, with the office occasionally jumping ahead another twenty years or so. The actors often remain on stage when the action switches to another location, but there isn't the quick cross-cutting or simultaneous action that Ayckbourn sometimes employs.
The play tries to blend trademark humour with serious existential points about identity and being, but fails to fully deliver as comedy or thought-provoking drama. The narrative tales are rather thin too, and I was left wanting and expecting more.
It's amusing enough, but one of Ayckbourn's weaker efforts.
Three stars.
Act 1: 19:31-20:44
Act 2: 21:05-22:02
(Seen Saturday night)
On a side note, and as an Ayckbourn fan, I was disappointed to discover I had somehow managed to completely miss his plays numbered 86 (All Lies) and 88 (Welcome to the Family), as they premiered at The Old Laundry, Bowness-on-Windermere rather than in Scarborough like the rest of his canon. Please someone put them on again!
