RolePlay - Damsels in Distress Trilogy

Synopsis

In their luxurious apartment, Justin Lazenby and Julie-Ann Jobson plan an introductory supper for their respective parents. Will the Jobson's, Derek and Dee, meet with the approval of Justin's mother, Arabella - plus whoever it is she plans to bring with her? It s an important occasion and everything needs to be just right. Things seem to be planned down to the last detail. But no one has allowed for the arrival of the desperate Paige Petite who literally drops in from the upstairs flat - hotly pursued by the menacing Micky Rale...

Our Review:

1 October 2002

RolePlay is easily the best of Alan Ayckbourn's "Damsels in Distress" trilogy and has, accordingly, been moved into pole position for the duration of the plays' West End season, appearing daily, with the other two only available as part of the trilogy Saturdays that remain.

While the same company of seven actors perform in all three plays, RolePlay is the one that was written last, specifically with these actors in mind, affording them all moments to shine. It's also the play in which Ayckbourn's comic motor runs fastest and dizziest, and his characters come most fully and plausibly to life.

In fact, it's Ayckbourn at his classic best, even if he re-visits the familiar terrain of the dinner party from hell where a couple - entertaining their respective awful parents - have to juggle with everything going wrong. It all starts with a neighbour (Alison Pargeter) literally dropping in from the apartment above as she tries to escape the clutche...

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Latest User Review

USER: Whatsonstage.com (212.211.88.14) - 3 December 2002:

More predictable, with more belly-laughs, but the least original of the three. I can see why Sir Alan is grumpy about the producer's decision to play this 7 times a week and the other two once each. It misses the point entirely and deprives theatre-goers of an enriching experience and wonderful performances by Alison Pargeter (and I suspect deprives the actors of job satisfaction too)....

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