This was like watching a craftsman at work. It was sheer joy to watch Alan Ayckbourn’s latest play “Virtual Reality” unfold in front of my eyes. The subject matter had nothing to do with the artistry of this play which had the pace of a quality watch. Never faltering, fascinating to see and hear. This commentary touched every facet of modern day life showing how we live and try to deal with what technology can throw at us .

Set in minimalistic locations around London Roger Glosssop’s set fitted the play’s needs admirably, but at times the noisy backstage staff tried to sabotage his work with sloppy workmanship. The cast worked as a team to produce a superbly coordinated unit that gelled together as if they were one being. No one outshone the other — they all shone to everyone’s advantage.

The characters are saying no one listens anymore. The women do not know what their role should be and the men wonder where they stand. All this set against a background of two men who have started a company concerned with writing the virtual reality software that runs a product they are producing. Alex Huby, played by Andrew Havill, is engrossed in writing the software, and whose wife pursues her own career as a television presenter Penny Porter, played by Celia Nelson. Their son is typical of many of today’s never seen teenagers, permanently ensconced in his room watching a computer screen. The only responses you get are grunts. Alex feels ignored by his wife and when a casual encounter in a restaurant with a resting actress turned waitress Cassie Renton, played by Daisy Beaumont, presents itself he ambles into what he thinks is a relationship. The restaurant where this encounter takes place is where we are introduced to his business partner and his wife. She is a bored housewife with too much money who has resorted to drink and foul language and it is in this state that we see Beth Hall, played by Susie Blake, and her faithful hardworking husband Barney Russell, played by Richard Darrington.

As with all Ayckbourn plays that’s when it starts to get intriguing. Without giving the plot away there is trouble with all the ingredients, wives, husbands, girlfriends and products. The mixed up girlfriend wants fame more than a relationship and when Lec, played by Dale Rapley, interviews her for an acting job he quickly replaces Alex who is beginning to realise that the relationship is completely incompatible. What does come through is that all this striving is not what we all want from life and does not give us what we want. Everyone was using everyone else for their own advantage. What is and what is not reality? Maybe the gardener McGregor, played by Mike Raffone, has the answer. Who knows?

This is a intriguing evening out. Take the opportunity to see this play, it will make you think about what direction your life is taking. © BA

“Virtual Reality” is touring to Oxford Playhouse (15-19 February); Warwick Arts Centre (22-26 February); Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield (7-11 March); Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham (14-18 March); Connaught Theatre, Worthing (21-25 March) and Harrogate Theatre (4-8 April) returning in repertory to the McCarthy Auditorium, Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough from the 27th of April and the 5th August, 2000.