To celebrate its 25th anniversary, London Classic Theatre has gone back into its comfort zone and selected an Alan Ayckbourn piece for its annual tour.
Despite being almost fifty years to the day since its first airing, Just Between Ourselves retains its resonance to the modern era and was hugely enjoyed by the audience.
Back in the day, fathers and husbands escaped from the pressures of everyday life by slipping into their shed or garage to tinker around in their self-made workshop. Dennis (Tom Richardson) is typical of the era and the play opens with him mending a broken electric kettle while he chuckles along to a popular radio broadcast.
It is apparent from the start that his DIY skills leave much to be desired. He has little idea of the wiring system to the plug, the up and over garage door has been stuck for months, it needs a particular knack to open the entrance to Dennis’s hideaway and everything that is wrong in the house is put on a list of projects to be tackled when he gets round to it.
Dennis’s confidence is hardly helped by a domineering mother in Marjorie (Connie Walker) who takes every opportunity to compare her son’s efforts to those of his father who was clearly a wizard in the workshop.
There is also a conflict between Marjorie and her daughter-in-law Vera (Holly Smith) who is both bitter with her lot in life and suffering from mental stress but has no support from her husband who belittles her in public and ignores her illness. In fact, Dennis seems oblivious to the deterioration of her personal circumstances.
Enter Neil (Joseph Clowser) who lives in the area and is interested in buying Vera’s car. Dennis is ill at ease as he attempts to hide the mini’s deficiencies but strikes up a friendship with the would-be purchaser. Neil is easy to talk to but clearly has problems of his own.
Easily manipulated, Neil is in a relationship that brings no pleasure either to himself or to his wife Pam (Helen Phillips). Pam once had ambitions of making something of herself through her career but now appears trapped in a marriage that brings pleasure to neither.
As secrets are revealed – “Just Between Ourselves” as Dennis would say – the action covers the birthday celebrations of all concerned. The car becomes symbolic because as the asking price tumbles so does the mental health and well-being of the characters.
Ayckbourn is very skilled at turning what could be merely an observation of the humdrum pattern of most people’s lives into a powerful piece of comedic drama. This play is an excellent example of his work which despite its bleakness provides many laugh out loud scenes with one very well presented piece of action having the audience roaring with laughter as the slapstick events unrolled.
Great credit must be given to Director Michael Cabot who has brought the best out of a talented cast. Richardson plays a man who is not really in control and attempts to bluff his way through life either by turning a blind eye or with banter that is in bad taste; Smith characterises someone descending into a spiral of mental crisis; Clowser’s character wants to do the right thing but is far too easily manipulated; Phillips is trapped in a marriage that she wants to escape from; and Walker is the mother-in-law that no one would like to have. All of these are difficult roles to convey to an audience but they are all convincing in their parts and bring a perfection to their roles.
There also has to be a big shout out to Set and Costume Designer Elizabeth Wright. The set is a perfect depiction of the inside of a garage/workshop/hideaway and the costumes are well chosen to take the audience back to the 1970s.
An Ayckbourn play is always a pleasurable experience particularly when well-cast and directed. This Is a perfect example of what a night at the theatre should be about and was hugely appreciated. It certainly should not be experienced Just Between Ourselves.
The paly has a running time of approximately two hours including interval and continues until May 3rd. For ticket information ring 01782 717962 or contact tickets@newvictheatre.org.uk
