THEATRE REVIEWS

You will be fooled into thinking that you are watching a television soap then suddenly you are pulled into the world of Alan Ayckbourn when he makes the statement, If I Were You. Everything is normal and mundane and then a question is raised, what if the male and female roles were reversed and you find yourself in the other's body?

This is the story of the Rodales, a typical family living their lives recognisable by all, with their normal teenage son doing all the things that you would expect from him by not understanding his parents and vice versa. The mother having got to the stage of spending time in a dressing gown before attempting to cope with the world around her. The husband managing a branch of a national department store, seeking relief from home life with an affair with another woman, aided by his son in law, with ignored domestic troubles. Mundane, but then a dream changes all that as the male and female roles of the main characters are reversed and we are taken on a journey through the other's world to the benefit of both participants.

Mal Rodale (John Branwell) the husband, blusters his way through his day as he walks all over his passive wife Jill (Liza Goddard), who tries to run a smooth household and keep the family peace. The son Sam ( David Hartley), wanting to find his own way through life, drives a rift between the parents as he contrives to take part in the school's Shakespeare play. Then there is the daughter Chrissie Snaith (Saskia Butler), married to the father's assistant at work Dean (Andrew Brooke), who is not all that he seems. All the actors involved give first rate performances to the delight of the audience. Mix in a home and work set designed by Roger Glossop and let Alan Ayckbourn loose with direction and you have a lot to think about. Wardrobe could have made a better job of the husband's suit, why are the sleeves always too long?

As with all Ayckbourn plays you never get what you expect, or perhaps you do. The audience as usual laugh at themselves, as stinging comments are made about their behaviour and the state of the world in which they live. All this in dialogue that everyone can understand, the words used are those that are needed to tell the story and not for effect, which allows the actors the chance to deliver them in perfect diction. It is a clever piece of writing and will allow people to escape the television and enjoy live theatre when this play comes their way. Interesting and provoking. Make the effort to see this play. © BA

“If I were You” is at the Round, Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough from the 12th October until the 11th November, 2006 and then touring. This is a No Smoking theatre.