Bedroom Farce
Written and Directed by Alan Ayckbourn
Oxford Playhouse until 27th January 2001

For Trevor and Susannah, life together isn't exactly easy. Their volcanic relationship destroys parties, disturbs his parents, and most importantly, keeps everyone up all night. And this is the focal point of the play - the stage is set with three bedrooms, that of Trevor's parents, one of his old flames, Jan and the poor couple who hold the party that they so successfully ruin with their arguments, Malcolm and Kate. That Trevor and Susannah are having problems is the catalyst of the plot, and we see their escalating animosity towards one another produce a chain of events, which keep everyone up into the small hours.

For a witty and cleverly crafted play, this production sadly falls short - which seems strange, given that it's actually directed by the writer, Alan Ayckbourn. The humour verges on slapstick, pantomime-ish even at points, and needs to be carried out with a certain vitality that the show unfortunately lacked. One almost got the feeling that the cast were just playing for laughs most of the time, which can get out of hand. The set was pedestrian and unimaginative, and the music ghastly. However, it was clearly well rehearsed and had a very professional atmosphere: telephone calls between the sets, lighting, and blocking of movements were all very well organised and fluid.

Having exposed the weak points, the play is excellent for a gentle laugh. Of course - you can always rely on Ayckbourn for a well-turned joke. Two individuals stood out as particularly charming and at ease with their roles - Trevor's parents, Delia (Joanna Van Gyseghem) and Ernest (Geoffrey Whitehead). Their understated approach to the characters was excellent, and satisfying in a way that the rest of the cast didn't always manage. Although good at playing hopeless, Michael Shaw as Trevor wasn't exactly the loveable/feckless individual he needed to be, and Katy Secombe as Kate just put on a really strange voice.

All in all, I'd recommend this if you're looking for a bit of fun but not much substance. Some of the jokes are laugh-out-loud, and the portrayal of Trevor and Susannah's disastrous affair is quite interesting at points. But if you're up for a heavy, really don't bother.

Camilla Long 24/01/01