FlatSpin - Damsels in Distress Trilogy

Synopsis

Joanna is set for a night of romance in her luxurious riverside apartment with the good-looking stranger from next door. How can she possibly go wrong? Except that the flat isn't hers, her name isn't Joanna it's Rosie and heaven knows what the good looking stranger from next door is really after. Nothing is what it seems and Rosie, instead of romance, suddenly finds herself in considerable danger.

Our Review:

9 September 2002

Note: The following review dates from July 2001 and this production's earlier run at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough.

The Damsels in Distress trilogy is certainly an interesting idea. Three plays performed by the same cast on the same set, all written and directed by that master of theatrical innovation Alan Ayckbourn. If nothing else, it is cost-effective.

Ayckbourn has written some rather magnificent parts for women over the years so the prospect of three new additions is a mouth-watering one. GamePlan, the first of the trio, left a big impression and certainly did the job.

Sadly, however, Flatspin rather loses the plot. Not that there isn't the basis of a good play here. This is a comedy-noir, a tale of confused identity, and more confusion surrounding a drug deal entrapment. There's also a love story, a bit of slapstick and some fine performances. Identikit Ayckbourn, if you like.

But Flatspin...

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Latest User Review

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

How wrong you are! Not a great play, but cleverly structured, always surprising and a great central performance by Alison Pargeter. As part of the trilogy, it got the day off to a good start and was a much cleverer play than the other two....

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