Bedroom Farce
Nominated for Best Comedy
2009 / 2010 ATG "Curtain Call" Awards
- Synopsis
- The Cast
- The Crew
- Performance Details
- Reviews
- Photos
- Photos
Synopsis
The play takes place in three bedrooms during one night and the following morning. The cast consists of four married couples. At the beginning of the play, the oldest couple, Delia and Ernest, are getting ready to go out for a meal to celebrate their wedding anniversary; Malcolm and Kate, the youngest, are about to host a housewarming party, to which the other two couples, Jan and Nick and Susannah and Trevor (the only ones whose bedroom is not seen), have been invited. At the last minute Nick has hurt his back and is unable to go. The complicating factor is that Jan used to be Trevor's girlfriend, and after Susannah and Trevor have a blazing row, Susannah finds Trevor kissing Jan. As a result Susannah leaves the party and goes to visit Delia and Ernest, whose connection with the rest of the plot is that they are Trevor's parents; she ends up sharing Delia's bed, while Ernest is forced to sleep in the spare room. Meanwhile Trevor himself, feeling unable to go home, is also offered a bed in a spare room by Kate, but decides to go and "straighten things out" with Nick and Jan, leaving Kate waiting up for him. Eventually Trevor and Susannah seem to be reconciled, but the end of the play leaves the audience very doubtful about whether this state of affairs will last.
Written By : Alan Ayckbourn
Directed by : Kym Clayton
The Cast:
Delia | Lindy Le Cornu |
Ernest | Peter Smith |
Kate | Jamie Hibbert |
Malcolm | Lee Cook |
Jan | Nikki Gaertner |
Nick | Chris Eaton |
Susannah | Amy Hutchison |
Trevor | Ben Brooker |
The Crew
Director | Kym Clayton |
Stage Manager | Joy Whellum |
Costuming | The Cast |
Hair and Make-up | Anne-Louise Smith |
Set Design and Construction | Steve Kelly |
Set Installation | Steve Kelly, Max Bowden, Sean Smith, Ray Trowbridge, Kym Clayton, Stan Fairfield |
Lighting design and operation | Ray Trowbridge |
Sound design and Operation | Sean Smith |
Properties & set decoration | Andrew Clark, Mary Cummins, Elaine Latcham, Margaretha Mooney |
Backstage | Mary Cummins, Elaine Latcham, Margaretha Mooney |
Publicity | Andrew Clark |
Ticketing | Karen Payne |
Box Office | Karen Payne |
Programme | Kym Clayton |
Photography | Natalie Thompson, Jack Curtiss |
Business Management | Andrew Clark |
Programme cover, poster & post card design | Visionzone |
Performance Details:
Thursday 20th May 2010 to Saturday 22nd May 2010 8.00pm
Thursday 27th May 2010 to Saturday 29th May 2010 8.00pm
Saturday 29th May 2010 2.00pm
Domain Theatre
Marion Cultural Centre
Cnr Diagonal and Sturt Roads (Adjacent Westfield Shoppingtown Marion)
Oaklands Park
Adelaide Now
Galleon Theatre's 20th annual season is off to a flying start with Alan Ayckbourn's Bedroom Farce, a fast-paced, witty piece about four couples at different stages of their relationships.Click here to see Full Review
Ernest and Delia, older, conservative and set in their ways, have a distant concern about their son Trevor and daughter-in law Susannah. When Trevor and his ex, Jan, meet at a party, one mishap follows another, and the farce is on.
As Ernest and Delia, Peter Smith and Lindy LeCornu have great fun, Ernest an uncongenial bore, and Delia a buoyant snob with just a hint of Hyacinth Bucket! Trevor and Susannah, both difficult roles, are handled adeptly by Ben Brooker and Amy Hutchinson, though the former needs to keep the puzzled looks in check.
Jan (Nikki Gaertner) and Nick are the with-it couple of the enterprise, and Christopher Eaton's account of the dry-witted executive consigned to bed with bad back is delicious. So too is Lee Cook's would-be chick magnet Malcolm, with Mr Bean-like agility and silly faces to boot. Sincerity pours from Kate (Jamie Hibbert), Malcolm's partner, an absolute sweetie.
Bedroom Farce is set firmly in the 1970s, and Trevor's violence towards Susannah, while handled well and returned in full and rollicking measure, drew not laughter, but sharp intakes of breath. Director Kym Clayton's decision to leave the setting alone is accordingly a wise solution.
Peter Burdon
Adelaide Theatre Guide Review
If you see only one bedroom farce this year, make sure that it's Galleon's latest offering - but it is not of the "Oops, Vicar, I've dropped me knickers" variety.Alan Ayckbourn's "Bedroom Farce" is a sophisticated comedy of everyday manners and the complications that arise out of the most ordinary of life's minutiae. Set in three bedrooms and taking place over the course of one evening, the play is probably one of Ayckbourn's more popular and accessible works.
Click here to see Full Review
The programme notes from director Kym Clayton state that this is the third time he has directed this play and that it is one of his favourites - the excellent end result is glowing testimony to these two statements.
This production is almost flawless - from the well paced, realistic direction, the great set, Ray Trowbridge's deftly handled lighting design and Sean Smith's very workable sound design through to the wonderful cast.
If one had to find something to nit pick about in this production, it would be that an overcoat that is meant to be too big for an actor, isn't. If only one tiny inconsistency can be found in an amateur production, it speaks volumes for a bright future for Adelaide community theatre.
So, one night, before going into your bedroom, visit the three at the Domain Theatre - but hurry before this Galleon sails away.
Brian Godfrey