Ayckbourn's Role Play at Cronulla
James Bruce directs the second production for 2015 at Arts Theatre Cronulla. Role Play is a 2001 play by British playwright Alan Ayckbourn, who focuses on comedy plays about middle-class life in England. This one is no exception, set in an apartment in London's Docklands and telling the story of Julie-Ann Jobson (Erin Youngblutt) and Justin Lazenby (James Phipps) who are preparing to entertain their respective parents and announce their engagement.
Before dinner, the flat is invaded by two neighbours, retired lap dancer Paige Petite (Jesse Seeley) and her minder (David Wrightson), a couple from the other end of the spectrum of respectability according to Julie-Ann's Yorkshire parents (Bill and Beryl Ayers), unforgivingly racist, narrow-minded and intolerant. To add to the mix, Justin's mother (Susan Geldart) arrives having had lubrication along the way, and spends half the night asleep on the couch. Three normally separate English worlds are now in collision, and the couple's incompatibility becomes evident. Ayckbourn uses his powers of observation to mix the accidental and the improbable, displayed here with great skill. The script is lethally observant, the humour flowing with ease.
The season runs till 13 June, with shows at 8pm on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights, with two Sunday matinees.
Full details and online bookings are available on the theatre's website: www.artstheatrecronulla.com.au
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