Thoughful Hijinks
Bedroom Farce
The Epoch Times
Diana Barth
October 22, 2008
NEW YORK?Somewhere in suburban England, Malcolm (Sean Dougherty) and Kate (Ashley West) are throwing a housewarming party. They and their friends are looking forward to a festive occasion. The only problem is, one couple, Trevor (Mark Alhadeff) and wife Susannah (Eve Bianco) are nearing ?splitsville? and have no qualms about letting their problems be known publicly. Thus begins British playwright Alan Ayckbourn?s ?Bedroom Farce.?
It doesn?t help matters that Nick (Scott Schafer) is laid up at home with a mildly but painfully injured back while his luscious wife Jan (Margaret Nichols) goes to the party without him. There she encounters Trevor, her former boyfriend before any of them were married.
All that is over between Trevor and Jan, but try to convince the somewhat dowdy Susannah who becomes even more tearful when she encounters Jan. Susannah has the odd habit of, when alone, repeatedly reciting to herself what seems to be a kind of mantra: ?I have confidence, I am attractive.? It?s clear she doesn?t believe it herself.
Thus far we?ve been introduced to two bedrooms: that of the partygivers and the tousled bed of Nick. But a third belongs to Trevor?s parents, Ernest (Larry Keith) and Delia (Cynthia Harris). They?re about to go out to an expensive restaurant to celebrate their anniversary. Interspersed in their conversation are references to the shaky condition of their son?s and Susannah?s marriage.
But for all the play being called ?Bedroom Farce,? although there is much talk of sex there?s nothing of the sort going on. Poor Nick spends most of his time trying to stay out of pain, which is difficult when he tries, with great effort, to retrieve a book that has fallen onto the floor.
When Trevor, back at the party, almost accidentally finds himself in Jan?s arms for a kiss, and wife Susannah walks in on them, the ensuing eruption leads to stronger, and more hilarious, events. Trevor now feels he can?t go home and pleads to sleep over at his hosts? place. Susannah, on her part, doesn?t want to go home either, but instead barges in on her in-laws, with copious tears.
Delia, ever the polite Englishwoman, invites Susannah to stay and share her and Ernest?s bed, while forcing her husband to take the spare room for the night. Ernest is not pleased.
Between them, Trevor and Susannah, in their clumsy efforts to untangle their problems, wreck the evening for everyone. A particularly funny episode is Trevor?s visit to the suffering Nick, who is in no mood for visitors. But a fun time is had by the audience.
However, beneath all the zaniness and misunderstandings is an undercurrent of seriousness: How does one manage relationships? Relationships are difficult. And this is playwright Ayckbourn?s talent: Depth, and even desperation, underlie ridiculous behavior.
Performances, under Jenn Thompson?s astute direction, are top drawer. Larry Keith and Cynthia Harris are staid but sympathetic. Scott Schafer?s Nick suffers nobly; Margaret Nichols?s Jan retains her aplomb throughout the evening?s nutty events. Sean Dougherty?s Malcolm and Ashley West?s Kate make the best of what could be an upsetting evening. Mark Alhadeff and Eve Bianco enact beautifully the fulcrum around which the evening?s events hinge.
Set designer Robin Vest has skillfully created three distinct bedrooms on the smallish stage of the Samuel Beckett Theater, and Martha Hally?s costumes are most appropriate, particularly for the unstylish Susannah.
All the actors, with the exception of Mark Alhadeff, are members of TACT (The Actors Company Theatre), which specializes in rediscovering great plays by great writers.
They have a winner here.