The annual play from Englands’ journeyman playwright goes about looking for a plot in a workmanlike way focusing in on the annual gimmick — in this case a trap doored well head. Add to this three neurotic women and you have the basis for a lively evening at the theatre. Ayckbourn has a look this year at the workings of the female mind and how he thinks it would react in the time honoured situation of one of two sisters having to looking after the aged father. Add a nurse, mix and see what you get.

The set by Roger Glossop is not one of his best with poles and netting obstructing views, add to this the director’s placing of actors in positions where they cannot be seen and cohesion is not paramount, further viewing problems arise when you add the theatre handrails. What is seen is the run down garden of the Chester’s house in London where Annabel Chester, played by Fiona Mollison, has come home after many years away to collect her share of the recently deceased father’s will. What ensues are a series of bizarre events culminating in a body being pushed down a well. That body is that of Alice Moody, the father’s nurse, played by Rachel Atkins, who has turned up to blackmail the sisters. The other resident sister is the odd scheming Miriam Chester, played by Susie Blake. As with all Alan Ayckbourn’s plays all is not straight forward and things start to happen as the playwright attempts to scare the audience. The characters are nicely drawn and Susie Blake as Miriam and Fiona Mollison as her sister Annabel give great performances, but this could not have been achieved without the third person Rachel Atkins as Alice the body in question.

The audience as usual falls into the trap of thinking all Ayckbourn’s plays are comedies, if anything this is a black comedy, but as usual it is perceptive and makes little subtle comments about how people behave and react to each other. This play is a comment of our time which the audience take as entertainment and lap it up. A fine evening at the theatre was had by all audience and actors alike, but was it a great play? You will have to go and make your own mind up about the predictable plot. © BA

“Snake in the Grass” is in repertory at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough until the 7th of September, 2002.