BEDROOM FARCE
The challenge when directing a play written 40 years ago is to make it fresh and relevant for a modern audience. Ayckbourn wrote “Bedroom Farce” long before the world buzzed with constant casual communications, and Ayckbourn’s plots frequently revolve around miscommunication. Director Peter Buller made the wise decision not to stray from the 1970’s and we soon accepted the lack of email, texting or mobile phones in an era where making a call seemed so much more complicated.
The play isn’t a farce in the traditional sense of the term: it is far more of a wholesome comedy concerning four couples and three bedrooms. There is one illicit kiss (although it’s hardly scorching) and the most any couple gets up to in bed is eating pilchards on toast! Humour, however, there is in plenty in this comedy of manners.
As the audience took their seats they soon became aware that one of the three beds was already occupied by the hapless Nick, played superbly by Tom Barber, and apart from a spell when he fell on the floor, he remained in bed throughout the entire evening, including the interval. Nick’s bad back prevented him from leaving his bedroom but not from grouching and whingeing “Why me?” at regular intervals. Tom was entirely convincing as a spinal injury patient who struggled to find a comfortable position and when he fell out of bed whilst trying to retrieve his book, the audience was torn between concern and amusement.
The play began in the bedroom of Ernest and Delia who were preparing to go out for their anniversary. Keith Burton and Debbie Forsyth played a typical middle class, very English couple, giving us glimpses of their safe and somewhat unexciting marriage. Keith and Debbie gave beautifully poised performances: Ernest a mixture of anxiety and conservatism and Delia, outwardly self-assured yet strangely unconfident when dealing with her daughter in law, Susannah.
The final couple, neurotic Susannah and the infuriating Trevor, were played by Sarah Burton and Ben Derrick. Trevor, the spoiled son of Ernest and Delia, arrived at Kate and Malcolm’s party to bring havoc to all he surveyed. Sarah Burton brought a refreshing, clear silliness to Susannah that brought chaos to the two bedrooms that she visited. Sarah never allowed Susannah’s self-absorption and flaky personality, although deliciously comic, to stray into the ridiculous. Although we never saw these two in their own home, we watched them selfishly spread their problems throughout the bedrooms of the other couples, opening up cracks in others’ relationships as they hopelessly tried to salvage their own.
Peter Buller’s excellent team came up trumps in every department. Christine Ward’s costumes conjured up just the right sense of time and place, Trevor’s suit in particular catching the eye. Stage Manager, Stan Appleton and his team performed nothing short of small miracles with the set. Sheila Smith supported as prompt and in the box office, and a host of willing volunteers worked behind the scenes. It is clear that the Society is thriving and it is no surprise with outstanding productions such as this.
