This Ayckbourn play is a set of situations that are most beautifully interpreted into a marvellous whole. First we see a woman in a dressing gown treating the visiting adults from next door literally like children because that was how she is living her life looking after her children because of the antics of her husband. Then we see the husband becoming more and more drunk in the process of trying to pick up two girls in his hotel. Next a restaurant where we see a boss and his wife having a dinner engrossed in their own squabbling affairs unaware that an employee and his wife are at another table. A ordinary village fete that goes very wrong because of the rain is next on the list. All this leads to strangers sitting alone in a park pestered in turn by each wanting to talk. Very mundane happenings, but not in the hands of Alan Ayckbourn who sees things unnoticed by other people and brings them into the open. Marvellous for the audience to watch and listen to and marvellous for the five actors who have been chosen to be in this play.

Alice Bartlett’s direction is first rate and Jessica Stack’s simple scenery and props work admirably. When you get a plot and words like these an actor only has to be good and these actors were very good. With each having to undertake from three to five parts to play and convincing the audience that they have not seen you before is not easy, but it was done at the Hull Truck Theatre in this play. Lisa Reeves, Dawn Butler, Christopher James, Mark Stratton and Andrew Cryer were a team and they were one of the best you will see on the British stage. Even the scene changing brought applause with the antics of a waiter and a chef. You should go to see this production and enjoy yourself trying to work out who is your favourite actor.

The last words in the play “talk to yourself” are a shrouded observation of how life treats most people, but Alan Ayckbourn manages to put laughter and interest into it. A mixed age audience enjoyed this play, something that they must have expected for they filled the theatre. © BA

“Confusions” is in Hull from the 4th of October, 2001 to the 20th of October, 2001.