Garden

I saw the premiere of Alan Ayckbourn’s House and Garden in Scarborough in 1999 and have seen several amateur productions since. Usually of Garden but in one instance both in different areas of the same venue.  Both plays are meant to be performed simultaneously, in theatres set side by side, with the same actors, playing the same characters, moving back and forth in the same basic story.  Though billed as stand alone plays (each refers more or less obliquely to events in the other) the stories from House are also taken up in Garden.  There are a lot of parts in these plays, and a lot of storylines, therefore seeing one without knowing what happens in the other can be confusing. For example, the novelist and political advisor Gavin Ryng-Mayne who comes to talk to Teddy about his political aspirations, whilst featuring heavily in House remains an enigma in Garden.

The setting is the walled garden of the Platt estate, which was extremely well depicted with lots of plants and trees, a large fountain which worked in the appropriate place and included some great brickwork.  With preparations underway for a garden fête some challenging props needed to be sourced. A  Maypole, a tent which had to be erected and collapsed at the right moment and stalls for all sorts of fun some of which were situated in the auditorium for the audience to participate in during the interval.  Lighting was good with some excellent sound effects. Costumes which, apart from the Morris Dancer outfit, I assume belonged to cast members, were appropriate to character.  

The first night performance of David Wilson and Barbara Oxley’s joint production was pretty solid.  The dialogue flowed well and the pace was very good indeed. The play is character driven and each one was well-drawn. As in many Ayckbourn plays love is considered from a variety of angles. Neighbours Teddy Platt (Nick Gulvin) and Joanna Mace (Shannon Hogan) are having an affair which isn't going quite so well any longer: too many people know about it and the Mace son, Jake (Mani Lad), is also interested in the Platt daughter, Sally (Hannah Garner) but teenage awkwardness gets in the way of Jake’s wooing of Sally.  Izzie and Pearl Truce (Rosemary Eason and Kate Friday), and gardener Warn Coucher (Graham Allen) seem to be in a ménage à trois, whilst the rather mis-named, Barry and Lindy Love (John Koch and Moira Stephenson) are not the happy couple they appear to be. There is also the French actress Lucille Cadeau (Fabienne Posseme-Evans) to whom Teddy transfers his affections, who is to ceremoniously open the fête.  All these romantic entanglements of course affect others in various ways. Like Teddy’s wife Trish (Elizabeth Reid), Joanna’s doctor husband Giles (Abi Reddy), Lucille’s minder/driver Fran (Suzy Worzencraft) and Gavin Ryng-Mayne (Colin Horne) who, unbeknown to him, helps Lindy leave Barry. 

There was indeed lots to admire in this production. Particularly the excellent performance of Shannon Hogan as Joanna Mace, the two young actors Mani Lad and Hannah Garner, who more than held their own in this large and mainly experienced cast and the lovely cameo from Rosemary Eason as Izzie Truce.

Even though the fête got washed out it didn’t dampen the enjoyment of an evening of amusing theatre. Congratulations to all involved.

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