Words, words, words...it's just how you string them together. Playwright Alan Ayckbourn, an accomplished wordsmith, can take a tired play form, farce, and delightfully string the words together to near perfection. Over the years, he has given us such gems as Absurd Person Singular, Bedroom Farce, and By Jeeves. Relatively Speaking, now almost 44 years old, still sparkles.
The words are just one factor. Timing in comedy is crucial, thus a talented director is necessary. In the case of this PowPAC production, Gil Savage brings a sense of timing along with a selection of actors who understand its value. They also know the value of pauses to allow audience reaction.
Though farcical, the piece does have moments of believability. How many times have you misunderstood a speaker? How many times has a listener misunderstood you? The art of listening is a terribly abused one, and Relatively Speaking offers a worst-case example, where a small lie can blossom into a personal disaster or fiasco.
The play begins in Ginny Whittaker's (Whitney Shay) London flat in the Spring of 1969. She's getting ready for work as her boyfriend, Greg Poynter (William Parker Shore), is rousing himself out of bed. Greg discovers a pair of large slippers not belonging to either Ginny or himself. Ginny tries to explain away their presence...a lie so bold, he almost believes it. Then a mysterious second couple, the upscale Sheila and Philip Carter (Connie Terwilliger and Jeff Laurence), are then visited by the younger pair.
The cast gives a delightful ensemble performance. The humor comes line after line, at times sneaking up on the audience and giving us a chance to laugh at this unbelievable amount of miscommunication.
The staging is unique. At the end of Act 1, Scene 1, Ginny's London flat is struck from the stage, walls moved about as Ginny keeps the audience entertained, and within minutes we are in the Carter's patio. This, no doubt, also gives lighting designer Chad Oakley a host of challenges. Sound designer Lou Alliano provides a believable sound track.
When you go to PowPAC to see Relatively Speaking, take an extra shot of coffee, be quite alert, and enjoy the way the cast presents Alan Ayckbourn's wonderful words.
