Absent Friends

Premiered in Scarborough in 1974, and not seen in London since 1975, "Absent Friends" was a turning point in Ayckbourn's career. Considered a huge risk at the time, it marked a shift from the brilliant light comedy of his earlier plays to the darker, richly tragicomic world for which he is now celebrated around the world, in which we can all recognize ourselves.

Evelyn has had a one-night stand with Paul. Her Husband John knows, but prefers try to get Paul's business. Paul's wife Diana suspects, but she doesn't know. Marge preoccupied with her husband Gordon, who is poorly (as usual). Colin, a friend who has been absent, come back to his circle of friends. His friends are worried about how to approach him, because his fiancée, Carol is dead. So, Diana organizes a tea party for Colin's arrival. During it, the characters are shown to have interrelationship tensions and this is near erupting when Colin arrives, heightening the tension when they all have to appear friendly towards him.

A sharp, hilarious and sometimes touching comedy of modern. Marriage, love, death, and faded dream, a grown-up comedy about married life, from the master of British comedy.

Review of Absent Friends by Alan Ayckbourn at the Palace Theatre Watford on Tuesday October 7^th 2008 by Kathy Driver.

It was such a pleasure to see this wonderful play performed professionally in the south of after a thirty three year gap! I must admit I was a little surprised to find out that it had been so long coming but it was well worth the wait. I think this is Ayckbourn at his perceptive best, gently poking fun at class and our psychological hang-ups, the repressed emotions almost palpable and their exploitation extremely funny.

This is afternoon tea with a kick. An apparently innocent tea party for old friends turns into a therapy session with a difference. Diana has arranged it for the benefit of their ‘absent friend’ Colin. Colin has recently been bereaved when his much-adored girlfriend drowns. Diana’s husband Paul is there, under protest. Diana has also invited her friend Marge and Marge’s husband Gordon (whom we never meet) In addition she invites Evelyn and Evelyn’s husband John. Evelyn has had a brief fling with Paul and Diana is suspicious. She confides in Marge who is constantly taking phone calls from the inept and sick Gordon.

When Colin finally arrives instead of the depressed gloom they all expect he is tranquil, philosophical, and extremely happy living in the past with the memory of his fiancée. As he proceeds to relive his blissful relationship with her through a seemingly unending supply of photographs it wonderfully juxtaposes their own tortured lives. It comes to a head when Diana cracks under the pressure of another one of Paul’s insensitive comments, tips a jug of cream over him and finally breaks down, hysterically remembering how she wanted to join the Mounties!

The neurotic Diana is beautifully portrayed by Abigail Thaw a talented actor and daughter of John.

The monosyllabic Evelyn whose disillusion and cynicism with life is only matched by her disillusion and cynicism with men marriage sex and babies! I loved this character, so well played by Claire Lams.

From the moment Diana’s husband Paul arrives (played by Jonathan Guy Lewis who made Paul seriously funny) the cracks in their relationship start to show.

(Evelyn’s husband) played by Dale superville seemes little phased by what life throws at him, seeing advantage in any situation – the eternal optamist. Even when he finds out about Evelyn’s affair with John he seems more concerned about getting business orders from him than confronting him. Fab acting and a wonderful 70’s Afro hairstyle!

The 70’s theme was captured so accurately by Emma Wees set. Great stuff, took me back a bit, I can tell you.

Another credit to the Palace Theatre and excellent direction by their own Brigid Lamour. More please. Whatever you do don’t miss this play – to good to wait another thirty-three years for!

Opening times: 2 to 25 October
Address: Watford Palace Theatre
Clarendon Road
Watford
Telephone: 01923 225671
Email: info@wa...re.co.uk
Website: www.watf...tre.co.uk