Bedroom Farce

Synopsis

When Malcolm and Kate threw a house-warming they had no idea how hot it would get. But then with four couples, three bedrooms, two ex-lovers and one set of parents-in-law (not to mention self assembly furniture and pilchards on toast) it was never going to go that smoothly. First performed June 1975.

Our Review:

9 April 2002

At first glance, the set and costumes of Bedroom Farce may well have you thinking that you've stumbled onto a studio recording of That 70s show, complete with canned laughter and jaunty intro music.

However, this comedy is no pot-shot at the decade that fashion forgot. Written by Alan Ayckbourn in 1975, it takes that year as its contemporary setting, but aside from the inevitable titters prompted today by unflattering perms, polyester prints and flares as broad as teepees, the humour relies little on collective hindsight. Neither is it strictly farcical, as the title suggests, for there is no mistaking of identities, hiding in wardrobes or splitting of trousers and even the slamming of doors is kept to a bare minimum.

Instead what we have are three bedrooms and four couples. In Lez Brotherston's pyramid set, the front two boudoirs belong to: Malcolm and Kate, young lovebirds throwing a housewarming party; and Nick, a bad-back, bedbound workaholic...

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Latest User Review

USER: Whatsonstage.com - 22 June 2002:

I adored it! What a pity it ends next Saturday - I'm so glad I caught it and can't recommend strongly enough that you do too. Sharron...

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