Alan Ayckbourn’s comic play about a tense weekend, Table Manners (itself one of the trilogy of plays known as The Norman Conquests) heads to Questors on a very warm evening.
Annie is getting ready for a weekend away in … East Grinstead. Her sister-in-law, Sarah, has come over with husband Reg to take over the burden of looking after Mother.
However, a change of plans, some unexpected guests, and several unhappy people make Table Manners an awkwardly amusing experience.
Sarah and Reg, Annie and her vet maybe-boyfriend Tom, and of course Norman and his wife Ruth, make up the sextet of this dysfunctional family. We never see Mother.
Director Richard Gallagher works well with three doors out from the action, including into the garden. This allows a lot of flouncing out and wondering what is happening in the other rooms.
Mia Biagio’s Sarah is selfish, unfulfilled despite her protestations, and blinkered. It’s a nice contrast with Nate Clarke’s outwardly calm Annie and Wesley Lloyd’s twitchy but nice Tom.
In a timeline that stretches from Saturday evening to Monday morning, Table Manners thrives around the dining room, with several meals bringing the characters together.
Jacob Dalton’s Reg and Herman Svartling Stoipe’s Norman play off each other well, while Norman’s delusions of his own likeability are fun to witness.
Filipa Maia has less to do as Ruth, but her sparring scene with Sarah is fun. And the set by Mobolaji Babalola together with costumes by Sarah Andrews screams 70s at a glance.
Scene transitions could be a little quicker to retain momentum, but generally this is an amusing, cleverly constructed, and sharp look at an unlikely modern Casanova.
With Ayckbourn being fairly foolproof, I was entertained by my local troupe of players yet again and say this chaotic tale is worth seeing! Just keep away from that carrot wine!
3.5 stars.
Table Manners finishes tonight at Questors Playhouse.
Photo credit: Robert Vass and David Carter