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14 July 2025
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5*****
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Some familiar Ayckbourn themes were still being born in the 1971 play ‘Time and Time Again’; disappointment, selfish men, the oddball, the resilient woman …..all would re-appear and recur in his subsequent plays. Comedy with an underlying sadness is also very much a mark of the writer and, at his height, this wasn’t more clearly displayed than in ‘The Norman Conquests’. Ayckbourn has acknowledged the influence of Chekhov’s ‘Uncle Vanya’ in the writing and it isn’t tricky to pick out the similarities.
The storyline concerns the relationship between Graham and his wife Anna, their relationship with her brother, Leonard and their interactions with Graham’s employee Peter and his girlfriend Joan. Leonard is a divorced schoolteacher and given to reciting poetry; he lives an unfulfilled life, finding solace in talking to Bernard, the garden gnome. An awkward outsider, a character which appears to be the blueprint for Ayckbourn’s ‘Norman’ in the aforementioned plays.
The play has been something of a favourite at Sidmouth over the years, this being the 7th production since it was first performed in 1974. This reviewer has not seen it for 44 years; it was the first Alan Ayckbourn play I had seen, and loved it. I still do, and this production has only enhanced that love.
Andrew Beckett’s set is a masterly achievement with a conservatory, garden and pond, tree, greenery et al; on a small stage, this takes some designing. It is a treat. It is wonderfully constructed by Rhys Cannon and beautifully dressed.
Graham is probably one of Ayckbourn’s most ghastly characters; sexist, creepy, manipulative, power-crazed; but it is a wonderful role and Dominic McChesney takes hold of it with both hands and milks ever last drop of comedy from the grotesque man. It is a comic joy; the actor fairly dribbling at the jowls with delight! Polly Smith has great stage presence giving Anna humanity and strength; it is in turning a blind eye and ear to Graham that she draws out so much comedy. Peter is obsessed with sport (we get cricket, football and draughts) – to the detriment of everything else – and Matthew Hartley more than demonstrates this with a wonderful physical workout on stage, but it is his simmering anger which creates great comedy and offers depth to what might appear a one-dimensional character. From the off, Katherine Dodds, shows there is far more to Joan than meets the eye – as her attention drifts from Peter to Leonard, she soon realises both have more selfish desires and moves on – the performance is full of unexpected strength and hidden layers which are gradually revealed. Probably the most challenging role is that of Leonard, the fantasist, the unemotional loser, the clumsy man who has lost his way; making his Sidmouth debut, Adam Forrester creates a Leonard who it is so difficult not to like. Undemonstrative but with a wonderfully dry delivery; this is a subtle but oh so effective performance of a lost soul.
Director Edwina Strobl has smartly illustrated just how to place an Ayckbourn play on stage with the nuances of the characters and storyline ever-present but not shouting from the rooftops. The production effortlessly induces much laughter from the audience between the sense of unease. An excellent directing debut at Sidmouth Rep.
In the intervening years since I first saw the play, I have seen many, many productions of Ayckbourn plays; it is heartening to see a production which underlines my high regard for it, created through spot-on direction and acting .
Next in the Summer Play Festival is the Richard Harris farce, A FOOT IN THE DOOR – performing 21 July – 26 July. Box Office – manorpavilion.com or 01395 514413
Cast
Graham – Dominic McChesney
Anna – Polly Smith
Leonard – Adam Forrester
Joan – Katherine Dodds
Peter – Matthew Hartley
Creatives
Writer – Alan Ayckbourn
Director – Edwina Strobl
Set Design – Andrew Beckett
Costume Designer – Jan Huckle
Lighting Design – Chris Jackson, Will Tippet,
Sound Design – James Prendergast
Set Builder – Rhys Cannon
Stage Manager – James Prendergast
Set Assistant – Dominic McChesney
Artistic Director – Paul Taylor-Mills
Associate Producer – Andrew Beckett
