THE USUAL TABLE: Triple Bill, Strindberg, Pirandello, Drury Landor till 13 Ju

The Usual Table - Triple Bill

THE STRONGER by August Strindberg, in a new version by Alan Drury

THE MAN WITH A FLOWER IN HIS MOUTH by Luigi Pirandello, in a new version by Alan Drury, based on a translation by Susanna Graham-Jones

AFTERS by Alan Drury

Presented by Little London Theatre Company
Landor Theatre, 70 Landor Road, London, SW9 9PH Box Office 020 7737 7276

(Northern Line to Clapham North, then 2 mins walk)

Limited Season 25 June - 13 July 2002
Tuesday - Saturday 8pm, Sunday 30 at 3pm

Runs: 2 hours, including two intervals of 15 minutes
Review: Peter Kinsey 26 June 2002

Tonight's menu: a bitter sweet starter, a meaty main course and a quirky dessert.
Cafes, a different one for each play, provide the shared setting for this triple bill. However, the usual tables do not provide predictable fare. Beneath the mundane appearance of the customers and the staff lurk unexpected tragedies and dark comedy.

In THE STRONGER, on a Christmas Eve afternoon, two friends meet. Madame X charms her way into a verbal attack on Mademoiselle Y. It transpires Y has had a long affair with the husband of X. Y remains silent, except for soft laughter: unapologetic, defiant, but alone. X leaves to join her husband. Who is the stronger?

In THE MAN WITH A FLOWER IN HIS MOUTH, a traveller, waiting for the milk train, encounters a man. As is often the way with complete strangers at odd hours in such places, the talk is direct and sometimes profound. The traveller discovers his companion is dying.

These first two plays are virtual monologues: Madame X does all the talking, the Man unburdens himself, with only inconsequential, occasionally comic, interruptions from the Traveller. The two protagonists are played with a nervy strength by Kyra Williams and a gripping intensity by Alexander McConnell. But their silent foils (Lynne Miller and Tom Marshall) match them with their own stillness and prove interesting listeners.

In AFTERS, all four players come together. This time they represent those who run a café rather than those who frequent it. It's late. The customers have all gone home. Three of them are clearing up. A fourth arrives, a fixer from the boss, who they suspect brings their cards.

This is a new play, written by Alan Drury, as a companion piece to his versions of the first two. Unlike them it takes a bit too long to unfold and reveal its secrets. But its off-the-wall and unexpected humour provides a well-placed comic balance to the evening, especially after the sadness and passion that precedes it.

Sebastian Graham-Jones directs the menu with clarity and precision, supported by a sharp, uncluttered design for set, costume and lighting.

THE STRONGER

Madame X, an actress: Kyra Williams
Mademoiselle, an actress: Lynne Miller

THE MAN WITH THE FLOWER IN HIS MOUTH

The Traveller: Tom Marshall
The Man: Alexander McConnell

AFTERS
Brian: Tom Marshall
Penny: Kyra Willliams
Rachel: Lynne Miller
Peter: Alexander McConnell

Director: Sebastian Graham-Jones
Set: Stan Young
Lighting: Vic Spashett
Music: Duncan Browne with Sebastian Graham-Jones

2002-06-28 22:05:25