Alan Ayckbourn tweaks 1975 and comes up with a winner for his 25th anniversary production.

Ayckbourn shows us here how the three ages of man can be viewed by how married couples treat their partners. This play shows how Ernest, played by Geoffrey Whitehead, deals with his wife Delia, played by Joanna van Gyseghan, who is well into her living life routine as an elderly parent. These experienced actors have trouble holding back the amusement at some of the words they have to deliver to the audience that reacts according to their age and memory. The trouble for the parents is caused by their son Trevor, played by Michael Shaw, and the women in his life. Trevor the catalyst for the play, travels from bedroom to bedroom with the word sorry constantly on his lips.

The couple in the mid stream of the married stacks are Nick, played by Paul Raffield, who is at the moment in constant pain with a bad back which confines him to the matrimonial bed. His needs are administered by Trevor’s first wife Jan, played by Sherry Baines, with some condescension.

Trevor trips from bedroom to bedroom with total disregard for the occupants’ feelings and they seem unable but to go along with his wants. Susannah, played by Diana Morrison, is Trevor’s second wife and is nearing on the neurotic, as she tries to convince herself of her competence to administer to his needs. She causes havoc in the bedrooms of Trevor's parents and the party givers.

The third bedroom is in the home of Malcolm, played by Peter Temple, and Kate, played by Katy Secombe, where a party was planned to take place. This will make people think twice about giving their coats to be put in the bedroom whilst on a visit to another house. This couple are the youngsters in the trio and are still at the trying to please at all costs stage of their relationship. Malcolm, the inveterate do it yourselfer with little skill and Kate, the young wife who is intent on pleasing at all costs.

Problems with relationships run through this play which are supposedly solved by talking them through with friends and relations, but...

Now everyone who sees this play will see it from their own perspective and this is the the skill that Ayckbourn has brought to his craft. It is a joy to watch the interaction of the participants in this play. The acting is first rate, The direction superb. The set nicely conceived. This all adds up to a marvellous evening's entertainment which should not be missed. It's one of Alan Ackbourn’s best plays. © BA

“Bedroom Farce” is in repertory until the 11th of November, 2000 before returning to the McCarthy Auditorium, Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough in December prior to national tour.