Alan Ayckbourn’s play ‘Just Between Ourselves’ has taken us back almost 50 years. Written and set in 1976, with some brilliantly performed comedic scenes. Though with Ayckbourn there is always so much more going on beneath the characters, here it explored deeper into the lives of two unhappy marriages, one controlling mother and five birthdays covering 4 scenes between February and January the following year.
Set mainly in the garage, Dennis, Tom Richardson, spends most of his time tinkering on jobs, without completing anything important or getting it to work. He has put the mini up for sale, which his wife, Vera, Holly Smith, no longer drives, due to her illness. She is constantly being put down by Dennis and ridiculed when she drops the tea cups or does something wrong. Neil, Joseph Clowser, arrives to look at the car for his wife, Pam, Helen Philips. Their friendship develops during the scenes focusing on different birthdays during the year. Dennis’s mother, Marjorie, Helen Phillips, also undermines Vera. Helen Philips is outstanding, providing the lighter moments of comedy.
The play was incredibly well paced, the moments of comedy are quick paced with perfect timing, then with times of silence and the slower sections as you are drawn into the darkness of the inner turmoil of the characters.
At times the audience were audible with the shock in the way that Vera‘s treated with her illness.
Well worth seeing this production, which will have you discussing the dark humour and difficult family relationships long after the show ends.
Just Between Ourselves runs until Thursday 17th April at Darlington Hippodrome.
Thanks for the review. I saw the play in Harrogate where sadly, on the second night, it wasn't too full. It's a play that stays with you and makes you reflect. The setting isn't comfortable and that's not a bad comment. It's a reflection of the time and how things have moved on.
ReplyDeleteI thought all the cast were good. I don't know how Tom Richardson kept up his jocularity with other characters who were so low. For me he won the actor of the show that night. The parts aren't the easiest for the cast to inhabit, as the setting and the dialogue are 50 years old. Though it feels distant now, is was clearly still quite memorable for the white haired audience (me included). It's a sad ending and I'm glad that there is more openness now and better treatment of mental health. It's interesting that both couples are looking after a live in parent. How much does that happen now - more the reverse - grown up children still living at home, and returning after university. It was also amusing to see the characters have to fit new bulbs to make a chain of lights work. That was a Christmas tree lights chore every year! Who does that now, or fix kettles?
The direction was good too. There was often little for the cast to do other than get through their dialogue but they found things without them looking too contrived. Neil, perhaps needed more.
The scenery worked well though I couldn't see the backdoor of the house and the right hand side of the set from my end seat in the stalls. I couldn't see the shenanigans in the car either because scenery or a cast member was in the way. I wanted to buy the mini myself!
The cast took one bow after the lights came up at the end. It was a shame they didn't come back on. They deserved another. Did they feel they hadn't done a good job or that the audience was too small to bother?