In Alan Ayckbourn's Absent Friends a group of friends put on an afternoon tea to try and cheer up one of teir number who recently lost his fiancee in a drowning accident. Only the friendships and marriages are all falling apart and their over exuberant friend crashes back into their lives like a tornado.
This is not a comedy, not as such despite being very funny, it is a slice of life drama whose comedy comes from the feeling that we are voyeurs at a truly embarrasing event. It is the comedy of watching a Basil Fawlty digging himself deeper into trouble or an episode of The Office. Funny but uncomfortable, that's how this 1974 play should make us feel.
To put on this 1974 play today requires a strong will. Many of its themes are so out of place today and it really can't be updated so has to be played "in period" - somthing that this production is; in period staging but also its production values - the characters are recognisably charicature and the use of the stage lacks the naturalism that had not yet kicked in back then. It is also worth remembering that, as originally staged, this was seen in the round so the audience were more directly involved.
However, to make it really resonate and reach out to a modern audience the director has to choose a definite interpretation and not just rely on the script. There are numerous approaches that would probably work, for example, the guest serves a very Priestley role as the external agent. Unfortunately, in this instance, no such decision seems to have been made and, as a result, at times the cast seemed to be struggling to find a common focus.
The acting I enjoyed, the set was spot on but the overall effect was sadly not as memorable as it could have been.
