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| The Company of Ten's Role Play |
While some purists are sniffy about his plays, he accomplishes more by the use of comedy than many of his more earnest peers and gives us a snapshot of modern life which is invariably spot on.
And the Company of Ten has also been spot on in its choice of Ayckbourn's RolePlay to start the new season at the Abbey Theatre in Westminster Lodge, St Albans.
The combination of an often-hilarious play, an excellent cast and clever direction by Roger Scales has got the season off to an absolutely flying start.
The run is already nearly sold out and if you can still get tickets grab them because this is one of the most-entertaining productions the Company of Ten has put on for some time.
All the action is in the Docklands flat shared by Julie and Justin who are getting ready for the arrival of her parents and his mother and her paramour for a dinner party at which they can all meet each other.
But in true Ayckbourn fashion, nothing goes according to plan with hilarious consequences and a sting in the tale which, with the benefit of hindsight, was always inevitable.
For right from the outset, the audience is baffled by what Justin - another lovely performance from the very-talented Ian Rowe - sees in the rather prim Julie, played extremely convincingly by Elena Ruggeri.
But when her dreadful parents Derek and Dee arrive, all Julie's odd character traits are put into context. John Pyke takes the role of Derek and I am sure Ayckbourn writes with actors like John in mind. He is always superb in Ayckbourn plays and this one is no exception. He captures everything which is ghastly about Derek but with just the right comic timing and the expressions on his face - particularly when neighbour Paige performs a lap dance - are hilarious.
Claire Sears is perfectly contrasted as the equally-ghastly Dee who walks in her husband's shadow and Beverley Robley gives a good performance as the dipsomaniac Arabella, Justin's mother.
But the real revelation is Laura Fairclough as the sexy Paige who quite literally bursts into the flat just before the dinner guests arrive, closely followed by her boyfriend's "heavy" Micky, played by Lester Adams.
These two complement each other wonderfully. Laura's lap dance probably delights the male members of the audience every bit as much as it entrances Justin and Lester demonstrates that there is more to Micky than meets the eye.
The Company of Ten have launched the new season with a huge critical success but have set themselves quite a challenge in trying to better it between now and next June
Audiences could well be in for a great treat as the months go by.
Roleplay runs until Saturday 23 September and ticket availability can be established by calling the box office on 01727 857861.
MADELEINE BURTON
© Herts Advertiser 2006. Reproduced by permission