Communicating Doors

Sir Alan Ayckbourn is recognised as one of Britain’s foremost playwrights having penned over 80 plays and movies and is also a director of note in the UK and Director Annie Lotoki in a great fan.

Communicating Doorshad its world premiere in 1994. The play centres on a communicating door between Suite 647 and the adjoining suite and, when used, the person “travels” 20 years either backwards or forwards. When the play opens, the year is 2036 and the suite is occupied by feeble old man (with a short time to live), Reese Wells (Adam Hellier). He enlists the services of a Dominatrix (Peta Simeon)  – purely to witness and deliver a confession regarding the deaths of his two wives: Jessica (Kerry Bradbury, whom he married in 1996) and Ruella (Viviane Gian), whom he married 20 years later).

The villain of the piece, Reese’s business partner Julian (Adam Skelton) and Hotel Detective, Harold Palmer (Dave Fraser) make up the group of “time travellers”.

It took the audience a while to come to grips with the play’s concept and the laughs were few and far between. Hopefully, the production will get the recognition to which it is entitled.

The highlight of the show was the set built by Terry Docker and crew.

Roger McKenzie

Photo: Shane Caddaye