Absurd Person Singular

As I travelled through the pouring rain that seems to have been a daily feature of our start to 2026, and took my seat at the Sheringham Little Theatre, I was not expecting that the weather pattern was going to continue at the opening of the play! The sets that CASODS produce are always excellent, with attention to detail to reflect the era particularly good. Alan Aykbourn’s Absurd Person Singular was first produced in 1972, with three acts, each one set in the kitchen of each of the 3 couples that the play is focused on, over three successive Christmas Eves. Featuring kitchen units with wooden doors, various household appliances reminiscent of the era and running water in the kitchen sink in act two, the set was cleverly changed between each act to reflect the change of household of the couples.

Act one (last Christmas) opens in the kitchen of Sidney and Jane Hopcroft (Lee Johnson and Lucy Connor). With the sound of rainfall throughout, and water on the rear door of the kitchen, I sensed that I was in for another high-quality production, as every sound effect, like the volume of the rain falling increasing every time the kitchen door was opened, and the timing of light switches being switched on and off, was perfectly delivered. Well done to Andrew Grey for the sound design and operation, and Tom Bryans whose lighting design and operation was also spot on.

This was a strong cast. Lucy Connor, as the nervous but loyal wife Jane, determined to support her husband to succeed, delivered a mesmerising characterisation. At her happiest singing whilst cleaning, Jane gets got locked out of the house in the pouring rain. Re-entering the house soaking wet, from head to foot, and poured what looked like copious amounts of water from her wellies into the sink, Lucy was an actress completely at the top of her game. As Sidney, Lee Johnson delivered an impressive performance, portraying the industrious tradesman who can turn his hand to anything. I found myself feeling a bit sorry for Jane’s character; the play was written in a vastly different era from the one we live in today. Even so, Lee struck just the right balance—capturing the attitudes of the period without ever seeming overly dominant. It felt authentic, respectful, and thoughtfully judged.

.Robin Taylor played the philandering architect Geoffrey Jackson, with Briony Gabriel as his misfortunate wife Eva. Robin very skilfully balanced the cocky and over confident persona in act one, to the desperate and beaten figure in act three. Delivering what seemed like pages and pages of script at the opening of act two to a wife at the end of her tether with him, was excellent. Having seen her as Truvy in last years “Steel Magnolias,” Briony showed her versatility as an actress. As a character who is dealing with complex mental health issues, as well as a philandering husband who takes her for granted, this was an outstanding performance. For the entirety of act two, the character of Eva does not speak, and is both angry and suicidal. Briony’s facial expressions and opportunities that she spots, as she attempts to take her life, only to be interrupted on several occasions by the completely unaware friends, was brilliantly done.

Finally, as bank manager Ronald Brewster-Wright, and his wife Marion, John Griffin and Nicola Gilbert were hilarious. Standing on a table to try and fix a light fitting, only to get electrocuted, was not only very brave, but wonderfully executed (forgive the pun) by John. I really enjoyed the “naughtiness” of the character, especially when his wife was not looking. As his always drinking wife, Nicola mastered this two-faced middle-class character, as she over the top praises the Hopcroft’s kitchen in act one, only to later ask when they are not present “how can people live like this? “. Ayckbourn’s ability to explore marital and class conflict in his works was brilliantly delivered in this production.

My congratulations to Director Simon Gilbert and thanks to all at CASODS for another very enjoyable evening.

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