Time and Time Again - performed January 1982
By Alan Ayckbourn Performed with the kind permission of Samuel French Director - Dennis Murfitt Cast (in order of appearance) Graham Dennis Murfitt Anna Janet Cousins Leonard Ed King Joan Frances Brown Peter Adrian Bolton
Production Team Jenny Rollings, Judy Hussey, Bill Kempster, Janet Green, Bruce Emeny, Maurice Barber, Kevin Brown, June Wendon, Ian & Anne Tucker, Derek Cobbold, Geoffrey Taylor, Val Taylor, Gill Baxter, Patience Ling, Viv Wheatley, and other volunteers not mentioned. The Play The suburban house of the Bakers' adjoins a recreation field, which is useful since football and cricket play a large part in the story. Peter, who works for Graham, brings his fiancee to the house and Graham, as usual, makes a bee line for her. However, it is Mrs. Baker's brother, Leonard, to whom Joan strays. Leonard, poetic, a fumbler, who moons around holding conversations with the garden gnome, has always roused the bullying Graham's malice and scorn, who is horrified when he catches the younger man very much with Joan. Joan and Mrs. Baker decide that Leonard must tell Peter at once about the relationship and he tries, half heartedly, to do so, and the result is wholly unexpected, as Peter's cricket and football supersede all other considerations in his sports mad mind. Reviews Laughter rang out time and time again at the Manifest Theatre Group’s latest production this week. The play is a comedy by Alan Ayckbourn, and the group tackles it with spirit and talent. Time and Time Again involves a sensitive, divorced man who mother had just died. His brother-in-law is totally insensitive, and the two attitudes produce both humour and pathos. Ed King as Leonard the poetical lunatic, and Dennis Murfitt as Graham the dogmatic Army man, play their roles well, giving the credibility with lines and actions that could well have made them look ridiculous. These two main characters are capably supported by Anna, Graham’s long-suffering wife, played by Janet Cousins, and Joan, played by Frances Brown. Joan is the hub of the plot – jilting the sporty peter, Adrian Bolton, for Leonard and causing Graham to spy on their meetings, which often take place in the garden, or even in the fish pond. Many solemn subjects can be read in between the lines; but the prevailing feature of the play is wit and humour, delivered by this case with accuracy and timing. Once again the Manifest Theatre Group has succeeded, after eight other production of similar quality. The standard and realism of the production is partly due to the amazing talents of Ian and Anne Tucker, who are responsible for the scenery. This is the couple’s third masterpiece, and it is almost faultless, teaming up with the work of master carpenter Geoffrey Taylor to produce a most impressive setting. Sue Wallis Photo Shoot If you have any photos from this production, then please let us know. Back