Henny Russell, Julia Coffey, Robert Petkoff and Graeme Malcolm. All production photos by Kevin Sprague.
If there is one thing that those Brits do almost better than us Americans it is to make us laugh out loud, and feel smart and intelligent at the same time. Such is the secret of Alan Ayckbourn, whose Absurd Person Singular opened last night at Barrington Stage Company and plays through August 29.
Robert Petkoff and Julia Coffey in their kitchen.
Ayckbourn is the English answer to America’s Neil Simon, and measured on a laugh-o-meter, can squeeze more laughs into one minute than any other writer I can think of.
Absurd Person Singular (which he wrote in 1972) has not aged much at all, except for the fact that Schweppe’s Bitter Lemon went out of fashion in the USA by 1975. And they still haven’t invented a washer-dryer that also irons the clothes when they are done.
The play itself deals with two of the playwright’s favorite themes, English class distinctions and Christmas. In Absurd Person Singular you soon realize that it is Father Christmas who visits ones house, and that the proper greeting is to wish someone a “Happy Christmas,” not a Merry one.
The play is performed with light accents, so the untrained ear can understand the repartee. Of course many of the laughs are visual, so enjoying this play is not hard work either.
The action takes place between three different couples who meet on three successive Christmas eves, in three different kitchens, and we get to watch how the fortunes and relationships change with each passing year.
There are three sets for the three different houses, brilliantly designed by Jo Winiarski to fit within a Christmas Card proscenium decorated with a giant red ribbon. The actors got so involved in their parts that one of the walls was sent out of kilter at one point in the show.
The box office and lobby of the theatre have also donned holiday decorations, as did a number of the theatre company’s neighbors on North Street, most notably Greystone Gardens who often collaborate with the theatre company. Christmas has come early to Pittsfield.
hristopher Innvar and Finnerty Steeves on the second Christmas eve.
The first act takes place in Sidney and Jane’s kitchen. Julia Coffey who plays Jane is a perky super neat Stepford wife who never stops cleaning and fussing, while oblivious husband Sidney (Robert Petkoff) leaves a trail of ruin behind his every action.
The second act finds a hilarious Geoffrey (Christopher Innvar) trying to get a rise out his suicidal wife Eva (Finnerty Steeves) who maintains silence for the whole act. She is intent on doing herself in, and tries over and over to write a suicide note and then follow through. Steeves mastery of this role is breathtaking, and calls to mind the great comediennes such as Imogene Coca and Carol Burnett in her hilarious portrayal. On stage she has no peer.
The last act, which takes place in the kitchen of Ronald and Marion’s house was Ayckbourn’s attempt to make a serious point, and the only portion of the evening to fall a bit short. But the depressing descent into alcoholism of in Henny Russell’s once sparkling Marion was effectuve, if sad, and the now subdued Geoff of Christopher Innvar became a shadow of his former witty self. Not to worry, for soon Sidney and Jane return, pretty much unchanged, and before you know the fun gets cranked up again and the audience finds itself laughing merrily along with the cast as the curtain falls.
Since Ayckbourn is a master farceur, the action on stage rarely stops to catch its breath, and director Jesse Berger keeps things moving at a breakneck pace. Absurd Person Singular does not have the five doors of a classic Georges Feydeau farce, but proves just as hysterical with just one or two doors and a window to keep things interesting. The six characters are all we see on stage, but we hear and almost feel a large dog, plus a doctor who arrives at the end of Act II but we never meet.
Henny Russell and Graeme Malcolm
While many plays this summer have used the words hilarious and hysterical to describe themselves, this is the real deal. Absurd Person Singular boasts real wit with amazing physical comedy for an evening that had my friend Shirley laughing harder than she has in years.
It may be hard to conjure up the Christmas spirit in the middle of August, but this play is a winner for any season. It gives the best gift of all: a truly hilarious evening of top notch entertainment. Enjoy it while you can. It’s going to be a long winter.
Barrington Stage Company presents Absurd Person Singular by Alan Ayckbourn, Directed by Jesse Berger, Scenic Designer Jo WIniarski, Costume Designer Sara Jean Tosetti, Lighting Designer Peter West, Sound Designer Brad Berridge. Cast: Jane – Julia Coffey, Sidney – Robert Petkoff, Ronald – Graeme Malcolm, Maron – Henny Russell, Eva – Finnerty Steeves, Geoff – Christopher Innvar. 2 hours 45 minutes including two intermissions. August 12-29. 2010. Main Stage, Barrington Stage Company, Pittsfield, MA. www.barringtonstageco.org
