This is my first amateur theatre visit of the year, although I always think that amateur is a difficult word to apply to the Sutton Arts Theatre, as they are anything but amateur. Indeed in terms of acting and set design they rival and often better a lot of professional productions I have seen. When you think as well that many of the cast and crew have got normal day jobs so have to rehearse on evenings and weekends only it makes what they do even more impressive. Anyone who caught their productions of Jerusalem or Absolute Hell last year will have to agree with here.
Tonight's production was Absurd Person Singular written by Alan Ayckbourn. Sir Alan Ayckbourn is a familiar name in theatre with over forty of his plays appearing at the West End. Absurd Person Singular was originally performed in the early 70's although it has had revivals over the years, most recently in 2012.
The story is quite simple and concerns three married couples attending each others Christmas Eve parties in three different kitchens, over a three year period. The play therefore is broken up into three acts, and there are two intervals to allow the set changes to take place, although the first one is only a few minutes. The first act seems fairly typical of a 1970's comedy from when it written. Some good dialogue and some very funny lines thrown in. But when we get to the second act we get a real change of pace and the humour really steps up. Some absolute comedy gold moments and now we realise why the word 'absurd' is in the title of the play. The third act doesn't let us down either. The audience seemed to love it as well and there were some definite howls of laughter.
The cast of six did a really good job here tonight as well. I believe I have seen them all in previous Sutton Arts plays before, but was especially glad to see Stuart Goodwin in this, after his magnificent portrayal in Jerusalem last year. And he was excellent tonight as well, bringing real energy to the role of Sydney and indeed the whole play. Michelle Dawes as his slightly zany wife Jane was also great, i'll be remembering her scene empty the wellies for weeks. I've seen Richard Clarke who plays Geoffrey many times and he plays a great, essentially straight-man, role brilliantly. His on stage wife Eva played by Lynette Coffey steals the play for me though. Though she basically doesn't have any lines in the second act, we are with her throughout and see all her emotions beautifully and wonderfully. Our final couple of bank manager Ronald and alcoholic Marion are played by Phil Shaw and Sarah Stanley. Phil is a perfect as a doddering bank manager type and Sarah plays a snobbish drunk with great skill.
Sets are great again, as usual at Sutton. They have a great team of set designers and builders and they've been hard at work again for this one.
The play is on at the Sutton Arts Theatre until the 8th February and tickets are only a very reasonable £11 each. If you haven't visited the Sutton Arts Theatre before I really so recommend getting some tickets and giving it a go. If you have been before you've probably already got tickets as you know how good they are.
For ticket booking please visit their website at:
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