The Norman Conquests - Table Manners/Living Together/Round and Round the Garden

Synopsis

The action of each play takes place simultaneously and follows the same six characters in the same English country house from Saturday evening to Monday morning. Believing it his mission in life to make women happy by showering them with love, Norman makes the most of every opportunity to seduce his sister-in-law Annie, charm his brother-in-law’s wife Sarah and woo his wife Ruth during a disastrous weekend of squabbling, eating, drinking and fondling.

Our Review:

8 June 2012

Not content with writing one play about a weekend where six members of a family meet up Sir Alan Ayckbourn comes up with three! Annie is hoping to get away for a couple of nights, a break from mother whom we never see but is still very much a presence during the plays, with brother-in-law Norman. Sarah and Reg come along to ‘mother sit’ but as this is comedy things don’t go according to plan as Annie’s ‘boyfriend’ Tom is hovering around and Norman’s wife puts in an appearance following a frantic phone call from bossy Sarah.

This may sound like the makings of farce but Ayckbourn is much too clever and subtle for that so what we are given are funny plays with some pathos, hilarious moments and watchable characters with all too recognisable faults and foibles. He captures exactly what it is like to spend a weekend with your family – plenty of friction, love, frustration, drama, shared reminiscences and hilarity.

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Latest User Review

Paulene Jones - 14 June 2012:

Saw Round & Round the garden - it was very high quality! Can't wait to see the other 2 parts!...

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