Ten Times Table
Newcastle Theatre Royal
Monday 4th – Saturday 8th November 2019
Alan Ayckbourn is one of England’s most prolific
playwrights with over 80 full length plays under his belt. This week sees the
revival of play number 21, 1977’s Ten Times Table at the Theatre Royal.
This production is directed by Robin Herford, who was
involved with Ayckbourn at Scarbrough’s St Joseph’s Theatre as an actor, as
well as the theatre’s associate director and artistic director. Indeed he played
the counsellor Donald in its first production. Thus, he has the insight into
how to deliver this slice of classic comedy.
All of the action takes place in the ballroom of a three
star hotel. Designer Michael Holt’s venue has clearly seen better days with it’s
faded fabrics and even the felt backing and gold star on the upright piano are
falling off. As the characters arrive for their first meeting, they struggle to
cope with the lack of heating or the fact that the lights are controlled outside
of the room. The venue is cheap – and it looks like it.
Ray (Robert Daws) has an idea. He fancies putting on the first
Pendon Folk Festival. He has some ideas of how to develop the pageant but he
needs some help so he puts together a committee to run the event. The bulk of
this show are the committee meetings as the various characters try to cope with
life or impose their view. Quickly factions develop as Ray’s wife Helen
(Deborah Grant) wants a significant role. Unfortunately Ray has also invited
local state school teacher Eric (Craig Gazey) who sees the event as a chance to
promote his Marxist views against the “middle class housewives”. This leads to
the development of a class war plot.
Around the Formica tables are the ineffectual councillor Donald (Mark Curry),
who it is hoped will carry some leverage with town hall, welly- wearing Sophie
(Gemma Oaten) who takes a fancy to the teacher and the drunk Laurence (Robert
Duncan) who has problems at home. Adding to the crazy mix is Donald’s mother
Audrey who may be in her 80s and hard of hearing but she is employed to take
the minutes. Sophie’s bombastic brother Tim (Harry Gostelow) and Eric’s very
quiet partner Philippa (Rhiannon Handy) add to the assortment during later
meetings.
Each member of the group plays to a particular type and
that is the source of the comedy. The much longer act one is a gentle comedy
which had the audience chuckling from time to time. This was more Oh, Doctor
Beeching! than Dinner Ladies though.
The much shorter second act was much funnier as the various elements
fell into play. It did give the audience chances for some proper laughter but
perhaps they expected more. Having said
that, my companion really liked the gentle comedy and he appreciated how the
plot developed.
Have audiences changed since 1977? Do we expect the build
up and exposition phase of the show to be a little quicker? Do we demand the
satisfaction of the eventual climax quicker than we used to? Have we forgotten
how to enjoy comedy that isn’t in your face all off the time?
The antagonism between the teacher and his companions on
one hand and the chairman’s wife and her supporters was the source of most
laughs. The interjection of humour from Elizabeth Power’s elderly note taker
also added some much needed light relief in the drawn out first act.
It wasn’t bad but they don’t seem to make them like this
anymore. Ten Times Table is an inoffensive yet pleasant enough comedy.
Review by Stephen Oliver
Photo: Pamela Raith Photography
Tickets:
Tickets:
Ten Times Table is at Newcastle Theatre Royal Monday 4 -
Saturday 9 November 2019 playing evenings at 7.30pm and matinees Thu (2pm) and
Sat (2.30pm). Tickets from £16.00 can be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box
Office on 08448 11 21 21 (Calls cost 7ppm plus your phone company’s access
charge) or book online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.