Synopsis Secretly, their chairman Arnold Hassock considers that The Pendon Writers Circle is in a bit of a rut. Until, following a provocative talk from a guest speaker, Arnold is persuaded to throw down a challenge to his members and things get completely out of hand. What with poetic policemen, hapless girls in mortal danger and, to cap it all, his own mother abducted by aliens, Arnold rather wishes he d kept his mouth shut. World Premiere
NOTE: The following FIVE-STAR review dates from June 2005 and this production's earlier run at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough.
One of Alan Ayckbourn’s Pendon plays in all but name (set in an unnamed “small country town”), Improbable Fiction once again follows the heightened realism of closely observed group dynamics with ever-more fantastical verbal and visual comedy. The target this time is not a pageant or an amateur operatic society, but the local writing group, and the result is a gloriously silly, very funny and oddly humane celebration of the Stephen Joseph Theatre’s 50th anniversary.
John Branwell invests Arnold, the chair of the writers’ group, with a baffled, rumpled goodness, first shown in his bashfully affectionate dealings with young Llsa (Laura Doddington) who helps with his senile mother and is pretty much ignored by the rest of the group, except for man-hating failing farmer, Jess (Becky Hindley), who finds her strangely attractive.
Jess writes historical romance - except she has not written anything yet. Conventional and cowed Grace (Eileen Battye) has managed, after umpteen years, to get as far as a handful of pretty pics in her tale of goblins and squirrels. Clem (Giles New) believes his saga of alien investigation, distinguished only by the frequency of its malapropisms, is a fairly accurate account of life at the Town Hall. Ferociously misanthropic ex-schoolmaster Brevis (Terence Booth) writes musicals, but has mislaid his lyricist. The only one beside Arnold to attempt cheerfulness is Vivvi (Clare Swinburne) whose manically tinkling laugh covers the rejection revealed in her detective stories where the female sergeant is routinely reduced to tears by the charismatic inspector.
After an hour of exploring the internal chemistry of the group and a dramatic pre-interval transformation scene, the second half finds Arnold coming to terms with the group’s improbable fictions as historical romance, detective fiction and nerdish sci-fi chase each other across Scarborough’s theatre-in-the-round, with the occasional children’s story or lyric-less song. Even Arnold’s speciality, turning instruction manuals into English, surfaces as a key clue in a murder investigation!
The cast are pretty much all old Ayckbourn hands and they switch expertly from the dowdy naturalism in Act 1 to quick-changing through the products of their own deranged imaginations in Act 2. As director Aykbourn (apparently effortlessly) generates explosive pace while always being prepared to leave room for quiet humour or pathos. Roger Glossop’s set neatly places Arnold in a world of fading comfort and Pip Leckenby’s witty costumes provide instant passports to various worlds of bad fiction.
Over the last few years Ayckbourn's shows have been a bit hit or miss but this one is a triumph. The first half is simply observational humour and extremely cleverly constructed characters - credit both to writer and cast. Whilst I can see that some people might get bored during this (it's not an action movie) most of the audience were sat with grins on their faces and supressing the urge to titter during silent moments. The seconds up to the interval are a brutally sudden change, leaving the audience slightly bewildered during the interval. The second half is fast moving, fun and - literally - a world away from the first half. The laughter builds gradually until by the end some of the audience were holding back tears.
A extremely funny play - strongly recommended. - 81.130.209.116)
19 Aug 05
A wonderful new play from 'the Master' an hilarious evening's entertainment. Congratulations to all involved, particularly the talented and energetic cast. Laura Doddington's tea-serving interlude was absolutely priceless. - 86.129.196.164)
26 Jul 05
Like many great comedies, Improbable Fiction takes it's time to construct the situation and foibles of the characters, which leads to a slightly unbalanced play. The first act is interesting and amusing, the second absolutely hilarious. You have to understand the characters to find their later actions so very funny. Clearly Ayckbourn was paying attention decades ago in his writing circle!
This is Ayckbourn with his lightest touch - there is little of the dark, even desparate underbelly of many of his works here - just an evening to enjoy.
He is, as always, served by a superb cast, many of them regulars at the SJT, who work seemlessly together to squeeze every last laugh from the audience. Their costume (beautifully designed) changes in Act 2 must be exhausting!
Absolutely perfect Summer fare in Scarborough! - 84.64.31.95)
04 Jun 05
Absolutely fantastic. A great evening's entertainment. - 195.97.238.117)
03 Jun 05
I found this tedious and dated. Would not recommend. - 217.154.44.162)
New theatre, in old Odeon, opened April 1996. Home of Alan Ayckbourn. Art Gallery, theatre-related shop and restaurant (lunch and dinner). Two stages and a function room. Wheelchair places in both auritoria. McCarthy has induction loop and both The Round and McCarthy have infra-red systems. Guide dogs welcome. Under financial trouble at the end of 1996, requesting more money from a very strapped council - which was approved early 1997. However, the saga went on for the rest of the year before the funding was finally settled.
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