THE JOLLIES. To 4 January.

Scarborough

THE JOLLIES
by Alan Ayckbourn

Stephen Joseph Theatre (The Round) To 4 January 2003
26-28,30 December, 2-4 January at 7pm
Mat 27,28,31 December 2-4 January 2.30pm
Runs 2hr 10min One interval

TICKETS 01723 370541
Review Timothy Ramsden 20 December

An overtly traditional-minded tale that's warm-hearted and cosily comical.In the last 2 decades, Alan Ayckbourn's become a leading playwright for young people. This new piece may not reach the top Ayckbourn notch, but it's a rewarding play, full of family values.

Over the years Ayckbourn's early emphasis on dissecting middle-class married frustrations has shifted. And a young people's play like this shows the importance of an emotionally secure home for children.

Jilly's a single mum who's not well-off, but she's splashed out on tickets to a touring magic show for inarticulate son Billy's birthday treat. Adrian McLoughlin's act delays the story some time, but makes a fascinatingly corny routine to contrast with the theatre magic Ayckbourn goes on to provide.

Jilly and son's audience participation for Mr Magico recalls an idea the writer used in his play Body Language. A trick cabinet wires into some force-field, leaving mum in the body she had aged 8 (though with her adult mind) and Billy a gangly 32 year old, still operated by his child's brain.

Adults ignore mum, approaching Billy, who wants nothing more than some sweets, as a responsible adult. It's like F. Anstey's father/son swap story Vice Versa. This isn't the only harking backwards as, escaping official clutches, the family hides with eccentric servants on a lordly estate.

While poverty and single-mummery tie in with the present age, the three are as irrepressibly right-minded as any character from the 1940s and 50s. This is especially true of 11 year old Polly, ever-ready to turn and tell us what happened next. Charlie Hayes plays her as the acme of plucky decency.

Meanwhile, Rambo, the estate guard-dog who pads after Billy (he's been wanting a dog all along) defies his name to provide gently sympathetic comedy.

The high point's in the resolution. Plucky Polly pulls it off by entering the trick cabinet to re-find her mother and brother at their right ages. With smoke, spooky music and a sudden crowd of extras, Ayckbourn enters the territory of time-speculation. This new element shoots the cosy, well-told tale into a new dimension. Acting and direction are as strong as ever at this theatre.

Polly: Charlie Hayes
Billy aged 32: Robert Wilfort
Jilly aged 8: Jo Theaker
Jilly aged 33/Mrs Amplespoon/FOH Manager: Becky Hindley
Miss Delicio/Mrsd Millstone/The Traveller: Regina Freedman
Mre Magico/Bostock: Adrian McLoughlin
PC Butts/Rambo: Danny Scheinmann
Billy aged 7: Christopher Hicklin/Patrick Young

Director: Alan Ayckbourn
Designer: Pip Leckenby
Lighting: Mick Hughes
Music: John Pattison
Costume: Christine Wall

2002-12-24 19:52:56