The Priory

Synopsis

Kate is delighted when she finds a country retreat that ticks all the boxes. Gathering together a select group of her closest friends to celebrate New Year’s Eve, she is keen to start 2010 afresh. But successful, stressed-out thirtysomethings in search of a good time in the sticks can make for one very fearsome party...and some surprising resolutions. Michael Wynne’s buoyant new comedy takes a microscope to modern dilemmas about life, love and retro board games. Michael Wynne’s previous plays include The People Are Friendly and The Knocky for the Royal Court, and Sell Out, Dirty Wonderland and The Boy Who Left Home. He also co-wrote the film My Summer of Love.

Our Review:

Michael Coveney - 27 November 2009

It is an almost inconceivable Royal Court main stage scenario: a group of middle-class young professionals gather for a New Year’s Eve party in an oak-panelled country retreat and tear each other apart.

Michael Wynne’s new play comes across as a “Big Chill” variation with a few bitter twists that leave Kate and her friends gasping for air while the ghost of a hooded monk peers through the window.

Kate (Jessica Hynes), a budding writer, has booked the gig after a traumatic break-up and rebound reunion with long-ago boyfriend Carl (Rupert Penry-Jones), an out-of-work actor married to a thrusting, self-obsessed television producer, Rebecca (Rachael Stirling).

They are joined by travel writer Ben (Alastair Mackenzie) and his flaky new girlfriend – they met yesterday – Laura (Charlotte Riley). In a bizarrely Ray Cooney-style opening sequence, Kate prowls designer Robert Innes Hopkins’s old priory - vaulted walls and light-up stuffed deer heads - while a se...

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Latest User Review

rds - 4 January 2010:

Well, The Priory has certainly polarised opinion here and exposed some awful snobs too. It could have been written by Alan Ayckbourn. In fact if it had Ayckbourn's name on it I bet there wouldn't be a single one star here. I LOVED IT - it was a blast. Rebecca Hynes, seemingly reprising her role as the downtrodden sister in The Norman Conquests, added much poignancy to the character of Kate. Of course some of the other performances were OTT, BUT it was farce - Christ it even had four entrances and exits! And like true farce it has a basic truth, in this case "Is there more to life than success?". Well you'll have to answer that one for yourselves, but Daniel and Kate may just have the answer to that. Don't be put off by the one stars here. Go with an open mind, an open heart and ENJOY yourselves - after all that's what theatre can be and should be sometimes....

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