THEATRE REVIEWS

This is what theatre is all about. Brilliant acting, brilliant writing and brilliant directing. All roads should lead to the Stephen Joseph theatre in Scarborough to see Alan Ayckbourn's Intimate Exchanges, but I wonder if the London dwellers will venture this far north in the depths of winter. A play with sixteen endings that are crammed with philosophical thinking and human understanding and then mixed with a touch of humour to be perceived in the recipients' mind. This is the art that is available afternoon and evening to those in pursuit of perfection.

Claudia Elmhirst and Bill Champion supply the acting with all tricks of the trade to give brilliant performances of brilliantly observed characters that come to life brilliantly. There are those three words again. They are not overstated. Claudia Elmhirst gives us Celia, a taken for granted headmaster's wife and Sylvie, the girl from the village who does for her and wants to better herself. Bill Champion gives us Toby the disillusioned headmaster and Lionel, the chancer lad from the village who is the school caretaker. Mix the characters up and you get a delightful evening of theatre as Alan Ayckbourn's words are relayed to the audience. You will see the tender moments, the savage hurtful moments and the hard to imagine how it's done dialogue which leads members of the audience wondering who the other actors are. The plot is immaterial, it is the words that count and the way that they are delivered in clear plain English.

Tim Luscombe lends a hand to Alan Ayckbourn with the direction and Michael Holt gives them an ingenious set to play upon which is lit by Ben Vickers. The Stage crew managed by Emily Vickers add to the overall effect of a perfect play.

All in all there is no more to be said except telling you to make every effort to watch this, or any of this set of plays, if they come your way and you cannot make the trip to see Intimate Exchanges in Scarborough with these two outstanding actors. The audience that saw them in A Pageant, yes that is the name of this play, will not forget it in a hurry and will have memories for the rest of their lives. Read those three words again at the top of the page and savour the sound of them after you have been consumed by these Intimate Exchanges. © BA

“A Pageant” is in repertory at the Round, Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough from the 1st March until the, 5th May, 2007. This is a No Smoking theatre.