REVIEWS REVIEWS
Ever had the feeling that you have been here before, well you will when you go to see Alan Ayckbourn’s new play, for the action takes place in the same riverside apartment in London’s docklands as his last play GamePlan. So does not having a new set detract from the play. No not a bit, for this is one of the funniest plays you will see this year even if it has his usual serious side pushing the plot along. Theatre critics were laughing and that takes a lot, whatever they may write in their reviews. So what is all the fuss about.
“FlatSpin” is in repertory at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough until the 8th of September, 2001.
Rosie Seymore, an actress, played by Alison Pargeter gets herself into a fix when she steps in to manage the apartment block. First a young man Sam Berryman, nicely played by Bill Champion, arrives and proceeds to take her fancy. After a shaky start the relationship seems to go the way the Rosie wants it — to the bedroom. But Ayckbourn’s plays are never what they seem and the young man promptly disappears. Strange phone calls with no obvious answer for the caller. Then the doorbell rings and two of Ayckbourn’s strange establishment figures rush in. Tracy Taylor played by Saskia Butler gives us the rough special services officer who has Rosie confused and handcuffed, whilst her boss Maurice Whickett, played by Robert Austin in a poorly fitting suit coat, tries to act the good guy and bring things back to normal. All we want then is the “Avon Lady” and a brainless special agent. This is exactly what happens in the shape of Edna Stricken played by Jacqueline King and Tommy Angel played by Tim Faraday, but it works.
Ayckbourn has a knack of finding ladies who can act and he has done it again, for Alison Pargeter gives another splendid performance as the girl in the wrong place. This evening’s entertainment is a play on words where emotions get in the way and allow mistaken identites to weave a story. Alan Ayckbourn lets his imagination run riot to produce parts for actors to covert for years to come. A magnificent effort by all concerned.
This is the second of three plays written especially for theatre companies of seven to perform on the same set. Something that all those who remember the old repertory theatres will welcome as it will make them financially viable again. This could be the return to something good in the English theatre.
Do not miss this play if it comes your way. © BA
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