The Norman Conquests ***** - TNT
Forget 1066 and the battle of Hastings, the conquests going on in Alan Ayckbourn’s clever and immensely enjoyable trilogy which dates from 1973 are of a far more intimate nature. Set in a Sussex country house over the course of a single sunny weekend, they can be seen singly or in any order, but much of the fun – and the sadness - comes from seeing events unfold from different perspectives. Table Manners takes place in the dining room, Living Together in the sitting room and Round and Round the Garden speaks for itself. Some of the action overlaps, some is consecutive, but at the centre of it all is assistant librarian Norman’s doomed plan to spend a clandestine weekend away with Annie – who just happens to be the sister of his workaholic wife, Ruth.
Single Annie can’t leave their unseen, bedridden mother unattended, so has summoned her brother Reg and sister-in-law Sarah to hold the fort in her absence - without, of course, explaining the exact nature of her intended break. And then there’s Tom (Ben Miles) the hesitant, irredeemably slow on the uptake, local vet who’s been subjecting Annie’s cat to all sorts of indignities just so that he can pop over to see her.
Things rapidly start to unravel as jealousies flare, marital irritability escalates, and siblings squabble. Ayckbourn is a brilliant observer of human foibles and Matthew Warchus’s excellent, superbly acted revival, played out in the round in a reconfigured auditorium, proves a triple treat. Stephen Mangan’s infuriating, woolly-hatted Norman (legless on dandelion wine but somehow managing to attract all the women), Jessica Hynes’ sad Annie in her shapeless clothes, Amanda Root’s bossy, interfering Sarah and, best of all, Paul Ritter’s nerdy estate agent Reg with his homemade games ( and peerless comic timing) make this an event to savour.
Forget 1066 and the battle of Hastings, the conquests going on in Alan Ayckbourn’s clever and immensely enjoyable trilogy which dates from 1973 are of a far more intimate nature. Set in a Sussex country house over the course of a single sunny weekend, they can be seen singly or in any order, but much of the fun – and the sadness - comes from seeing events unfold from different perspectives. Table Manners takes place in the dining room, Living Together in the sitting room and Round and Round the Garden speaks for itself. Some of the action overlaps, some is consecutive, but at the centre of it all is assistant librarian Norman’s doomed plan to spend a clandestine weekend away with Annie – who just happens to be the sister of his workaholic wife, Ruth.
Single Annie can’t leave their unseen, bedridden mother unattended, so has summoned her brother Reg and sister-in-law Sarah to hold the fort in her absence - without, of course, explaining the exact nature of her intended break. And then there’s Tom (Ben Miles) the hesitant, irredeemably slow on the uptake, local vet who’s been subjecting Annie’s cat to all sorts of indignities just so that he can pop over to see her.
Things rapidly start to unravel as jealousies flare, marital irritability escalates, and siblings squabble. Ayckbourn is a brilliant observer of human foibles and Matthew Warchus’s excellent, superbly acted revival, played out in the round in a reconfigured auditorium, proves a triple treat. Stephen Mangan’s infuriating, woolly-hatted Norman (legless on dandelion wine but somehow managing to attract all the women), Jessica Hynes’ sad Annie in her shapeless clothes, Amanda Root’s bossy, interfering Sarah and, best of all, Paul Ritter’s nerdy estate agent Reg with his homemade games ( and peerless comic timing) make this an event to savour.
Old Vic, The Cut, SE1 (0870-060 6628). Until December 20. £10-£45 (concessions available)
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