It's certainly no surprise that the glowing reviews come from those who fondly remember the 70s, as that's where this is stuck. Not really for those who are not from that era. I think very few young(ish), casual theatre go-ers will enjoy this. From a 30s view-point, i found it to be slow, featuring one dimensional characters, displaying an out of date humour, which not even better acting could save. - Steven
02 Apr 12
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4* (what's gone wrong with the star ratings?)
Ayckbourn has been compared to Chekhov but the most obvious parallel for Absent Friends is with Mike Leigh's Abigail's Party. Katherine Parkinson is superbly irritating as the increasingly desperate and desolate hostess whose plans for a tea party for a recently bereaved friend gradually collapse around her amidst accusations of adultery, hypochondriac partners and seething rage between couples. There is no weak link in a terrific ensemble but the relatively inexperienced Kara Tointon is particularly good. She has been cast against type as the stroppy and sardonic Evelyn, although anyone would react like that in such exasperating company. The only problem is that, despite horrifically accurate 70's fashion and hairstyle, Kara is too adorably gorgeous to have married the idiotic John or romped with Stefan Rhodri's unappealing Paul. Jeremy Herrin has directed some exceptional productions, including The Heretic, but some of his most recent work has been less successful. In this case, although he has captured the darker elements of Ayckbourn's play, he hasn't fully exploited the comedy. There was little of the helpless laughter that should come with Ayckbourn despite the awfulness of the situations he portrays, but nevertheless the quality of the dramatic set-up and characterisation shines through despite Herrin's rather pedestrian production.
- David Baxter
01 Mar 12
This is a terrific production of a terrific play, sad and funny. Ayckbourn is at his bleakest, in his depiction of relationships, none of which offer any apparent comfort or joy. Kara Tointon and Reese Shearsmith are the standout funny performers here, making the most of their characters, who are the polar opposites of each other. Tointon's character, Evelyn, is the mouthpiece for Ayckbourn's own bleak take on relationships. She says little because she realises talking gets you nowhere, and when she does talk, it is with the cutting precision of truth (within the context of Ayckbourn's despairing play). Tointon takes Evelyn's humourlessness, and turns it into honesty, and her timing is impeccable. This is the best I have seen her, much better than in Pygmalion (where the shadow of Michelle Dockery's recent more nuanced performance still lingered). Kara Tointon has funny bones! So has Reese Shearsmith as Colin, the insular contrary deluded optimist, who brings his deluded upbeat views to play on the misery of the others. Everything he says contradicts the views of the play, and Shearsmith delightfully counterpoints everything that the play is about, in a needling irritating know-it-all way that made me laugh out loud. The 4 other characters in the play are also wonderfully performed, but they are not funny, rather they are desperate portrayals of the failure of human beings to relate. Katherine Parkinson, in particular, cheerily teeters effectively on the edge of emotional breakdown. The production design is convincingly seventies, the direction effective at foregrounding the drama. Ayckbourn's stature is destined to rise and rise as his lesser known works are rediscovered. - steveatplays
15 Feb 12
Brilliant cast in a brilliant production. The direction & design superb. The play's emotional truth & bleak intentions beneath the laughs are beautifully played by the great cast. Comedy often does come out of deeply tragic circumstances. This production does NOT play them for laughs (some of Cassox's comments regarding the production are horribly patronising. Have to say that his shrill review is happily at odds with the overwhelming majority of critics & those here) The drama & comedy are interwined & the characters' emotions delicately, subtlely portrayed (Reece Shearsmith & Katherine Parkinson in particular are outstanding) It is darkly funny & in the end deeply moving comic drama. Memorably & hilariously bleak piece of theatre. - Scarlet
15 Feb 12
Great Theatre and such an entertaining play and of course I think most have us have been in situations like this with friends. It was both tragic and comical and how hard it is to try and avoid a topic you feel you should not bring up--doesn't work, you bring it up all the more. Superb Cast as nice to see Reece Shearsmith on stage after the great Betty Blue Eyes (why that came off I will never know). The best lines are delivered by Katharine Parkinson and Elizabeth Berrington who are both great in this. Kara Tointon is the one with the least to say but every time she says something she does it brilliantly. Nice to see the theatre full and the audience were in raptures. Great play - Joe Spiteri
14 Feb 12
Happily -"Cassox" strangely bitter comments are completely cancelled out in the knowledge a) nobody else thinks its that bad and b) the author himself is very, very happy with this rendering of his work. Nothing else matters in the face of that. You can dislike it - but you can't say the play is good but this version is bad, when Ayckbourn himself has given it his blessing. I found it thoroughly engaging and all the performances riveting. - Lawrence55
12 Feb 12
That "Parker Knoll leatherette sofa chair" certainly looked like an Eames to me too. - David
11 Feb 12
If Henry Hitchen's Review in the evening standard was true, it would be a great show. However this is an awful production of an interesting play. It's played for laughs, not drama, and when you have a play where the comedy comes out of the deeply tragic circumstances, that is unforgivable. Most churn out the same-old-same-old (small whiny voiced Parkinson.... pick any of her previous performances for reference.... I'm the comedy Northerner Shearsmith... again... any previous performance) but Tointon stands out as being... well.. actually quite good. Horrible design by Schutt and horrible direction by Herrin.... it was as if the actors got the scripts two days in advance, asked to learn it, put in 'hilarious' 70's frocks, then asked to just do some acting for an audience. It's not terrible, but you'd be better off seeing something else. - Cassox
10 Feb 12
loved it. Shearsmith hilarious and tragic. You can't help but sit and see elements of your own life being charicatured. Go and see it. You'll love it. - Henry Weiss
10 Feb 12
Expected it to be old fashened but it was a crisp and witty production and I loved every minute. Shearsmith seemed to be inspired by Griff Rhys Jones and was clearly the star of the production with an outstanding support - Elisabeth
10 Feb 12
was that a Parker Knoll? It looked like an Eames chair from where I was sitting.I remember thinking how chic for a 70's household. - Richard Voyce
