Joking Apart

Synopsis

Richard and Anthea are an ideal couple. Attractive, charming, successful in business, loving parents and most generous of hosts. Who can't help loving them? Who, secretly can't help envying them? But such beautiful people can be dangerous. As their friends, neighbours and business partners discover when, like moths around a candle, they are fatally attracted to this fascinating but ultimately destructive flame.

Our Review:

Veronica Crowley - 1 March 2013

Alan Ayckbourn is a master at weeding out human foibles and his darkly funny play Joking Apart is a fine example of this. Lucy Pitman-Wallace has revitalised this clever, poignantly sad, yet very humorous portrayal of etiquette, friendships and jealousies.

The action takes place in the back garden of the ‘perfect couple’, Richard and Anthea, between 1966 and 1978. The set, creatively and believably designed by Tom Rogers is a triumph. It has a magnificent climbable tree, tennis court, summer house and an authentic, although rather scruffy, lawn. Off stage effects, consisting of errant fireworks, wayward children and the far side of tennis matches, cleverly compliment the thread of the play, adding many details to provide a convincing whole story.

Each of the characters is finely drawn and superbly played by this diverse cast. The plot intrinsically links their lives through business, neighbours and old friends in a caricature mirror image of l...

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Latest User Review

Dennis Scone - 17 March 2013:

Full of expectation, but, sadly the set won. The cast had to deal with a dead script. Dated and vacuous, it begs the question why? Not one of his best. Why would you not pick a play that would be more rewarding for both cast and audience? There are plenty of writers who go unnoticed while so-called “names” get most of the cream. The game’s not straight, guv. Disappointed....

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