Table Manners

Alan Ayckbourn’s play “Table Manners” requires humour, pathos and pace in equal measures to ensure a successful production and Ecclesall Players, with excellent direction by Sue Preston, achieved this from the opening of Act 1 right through to the final curtain.

Annie, who looks after her mother, has arranged to go away for a naughty weekend with her brother-in-law, Norman, who is married to her sister Ruth. Their brother Reg and his controlling wife Sarah have agreed to look after the mother instead. Also involved with this family is Annie’s friend, Tom. She is secretly in love with Tom, but he is totally unaware of her feelings.

A family get-together doesn’t always work out perfectly, with disagreements, sarcastic remarks, every emotion you can think of and arguments. All this is followed by tears with people trying to make light of the situation and, of course, trying to interfere in each other’s’ love lives.  

All the actors were perfectly cast in their roles, understanding perfectly how their characters interacted with each other, not only with the dialogue which they all had abundance, but in body language as well. The dialogue was delivered with a good pace, clarity, and confidence.  I have watched nearly all the actors in various roles and settings and as always, they gave first-class performances.

Janet Black with copious amounts of dialogue and constantly on the move was outstanding as the very snobby and houseproud Sarah. She insisted on taking control over everything and everybody, constantly finding faults with not only her husband Reg, but everyone else in the house. Paul Black gave an excellent performance as her “hen-pecked” husband (yes, they are married in real life). Whatever Sarah told Reg to do, he did it whether he wanted to or not.

Bridget Rouse gave a great performance as Annie. According to Sarah, Annie’s culinary, household skills and dresswear were non-existent and she was forever finding fault with her.  All Annie wanted in life was to be loved, especially by Tom, a veterinary surgeon whose laid-back attitude was perfectly played by Paul Webb. Even in the last scene he still didn’t take the hint that she was in love with him.

The name of Norman is mentioned several times in conversations and when he does arrive, he certainly makes an impression as a very bold and confident man. He likes to flirt with the ladies and so came to take Annie away for the weekend. Graham Millar was excellent in this role and, due to the other members of the family not talking to him, had pages of just talking to himself and making sense at the same time – not always an easy thing to do. Things do not go to Norman’s plan when his very elegant wife, Ruth, makes an appearance. She is a lady who admits that her high-flying career keeps Norman in the life to which he has grown accustomed. Sian Butler-Walsh’s interpretation of this lady was exactly right and another great performance.

This was an excellent production, only achieved by hard work and hours of rehearsals from everyone involved. The director, Sue Preston, the production team, cast and back-stage crew all worked very hard to ensure that the food and re-setting of the scenes worked like clockwork. The designers and building crew created an impressive set – note that the outfits also matched the year it was set in 1973.  

Thank you for the invite, hospitality and a wonderful evening’s entertainment. You made the audience laugh out loud so many times interspersed with moments of gentleness. Looking forward to your next production in 2024.

 

 

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