PRIVATE FEARS IN PUBIC PLACES. To 30 September.

Manchester

PRIVATE FEARS IN PUBLIC PLACES
by Alan Ayckbourn

Library Theatre To 30 September 2006
Mon-Sat 8pm Mat Thu & Sat 8pm
Audio-described 23 Sept 3pm 28 Sept 8pm
BSL Signed 21 Sept
Captioned 26 Sept
Runs 1hr 45min No interval

TICKETS:0161 236 7110
www.librarytheatre.com
Review: Timothy Ramsden 16 September

Human comedy of lives lived in quiet desperation, given a confident production.
As its title suggests, this is very bleak comedy. There are discontents in its relationships from the start, but things grow closer to desperation as the action snakes through its 2-character scenes of private and working lives. There's an inevitable-seeming slide towards the final image of Chris Honer's confident production, where each person stands alone in an isolated pool of light, looking in a separate direction.

Two attempts to suggest personal feeling in relationships based on work utterly fail. In one case, dutiful friendliness clocks off. The other goes to the play's dark heart. Religious Charlotte, properly prim, grey-suited estate agent has a highly accommodating smile; the type of accommodation behind it receives a grimly comic treatment.

Her individual sexual expression is revenge for the grievances her religious forbearance brings, and a sublimation of passion and power. Not that her religion's hypocrisy; Charlotte's statement that, "Hellfire burns within us all," and consumes if not suppressed, runs alongside her bursts of fervent prayer to suggest her own internal boiling oil.

Others are bound by secrets, shames and shyness. If anybody walks away intact, it's someone who's linked only to one other person, and who ends tearing up letters from the relationship. Ayckbourn brings his usual understanding and humane perspective to all this; there's only one moment of contrived coincidence. Yet, whatever their quirks or failings, none of these characters is a write-off.

Honer, as usual, ensures his strong cast plays the truth of situations, rather than substituting external mannerisms for inner demons. It makes for an evening where comedy and desolation feed off each other. Laughter arises from human behaviour and desires, and it's his sympathetic observation of these that gives Ayckbourn his pre-eminence.

Nicola:Imogen Slaughter
Stewart: Leigh Symonds
Dan: Robert Perkins
Ambrose: Malcolm James
Charlotte: Olwen May
Imogen: Alice James

Director: Chris Honer
Designer: Judith Croft
Lighting: James Farncombe
Sound:Paul Gregory
Assistant director: Daniel Bird

2006-09-17 13:37:07