NORMAN CONQUESTS, ROUND AND ROUND THE GARDEN till 22 May

ROUND AND ROUND THE GARDEN: part of Alan Ayckbourn's trilogy THE NORMAN CONQUESTS
(Reviewed as Part III of the trilogy)
Birmingham Rep: Tkts 0121 236 4455
Runs: 1h 55m, one interval, till 22 May
Review: Rod Dungate, 6 May 2004

A satisfying feeling of closure without tying up any loose ends and a summing up of is it a comeuppance?
There is a real feeling of knowing the six characters by the time we reach this play. Yet they continue to reveal more of themselves as we see their lives from another perspective. Gaps are filled in, we see other facets of their natures.

The garden and sunshine form a perfect setting as characters stand and chat or sit and chat, their relaxation lends the play a gentleness; a quality I've mentioned before but here seems stronger than ever. Ayckbourn seems less interested in the technical demands of comedy plotting than in his characters revealing their stories. High spots are the duologues, their strength in turn growing from the strong bonds between the actors. Most notably with Annie (Caroline Faber), unmarried and looking after her ghastly mother. I loved her scenes with Tom (Tony Boncza), so full of pain, so funny too; and a welcome opportunity for Boncza to take centre stage with his reluctant character. Annie's scenes with Norman seem to reveal the most quirky and intriguing form of love/ affection/ understanding (call it what you will).

Ayckbourn would not be complete without at least one marvellous comedy climax; here it happens with sexual cavorting, kissing and rolling about on the lawn. Katharine Rogers, the myopic Ruth, makes a spectacular entrance, one to be savoured.

With great mastery, Ayckbourn leaves us with no easy answers to the mysteries of life and love he explores, except perhaps that we all muddle through at best, and keeps a marvellous surprise for the end.

It's been a real pleasure to see these plays, now 30 years old. They are perfect products from their time and within their style, yet still retain the power to speak to us today and delight us at the same time. The trilogy enables us more clearly to see (in a way at first hand) how Ayckbourn was developing his form with an enviable technical facility.

Norman: Michael Begley
Tom: Tony Boncza
Annie: Caroline Faber
Sarah: Leda Hodgson
Reg: Paul Raffield
Ruth: Katharine Rogers

Direction: Jonathan Church
Design: Simon Higlett
Lighting: Mark Jonathan
Music: Matthew Scott
Fights: Renny Krupinski

2004-05-07 15:29:32