Alan Ayckbourn's Absurd Person Singular, Grasmere Hall

GRASMERE Players had a couple of setbacks before their opening but the players pulled it off with panache and a great deal of laughter. The story concerns three married couples, three kitchens and three Christmases, all acts ending in mayhem.

At first the lowly Hopcrofts: Jane (Sarah Waterhouse) and Sidney (Adam Foster) are menial hosts to the other socially superior couples. But the status quo is precarious. In the next act the Jacksons: Eva (Hilary Stevenson) and Geoffrey (Trevor Eastes) host a disastrous party punctuated by bleak yet hilarious moments. By the third Christmas hosted by the Brewster-Wrights Marion (Christine Wright) and Ronald (Hugh Wright)...well, that would be telling too much but each character faces the consequences of their inadequacies.

The wives are dominated by domineering husbands. Jane cleans and polishes anything that stays still long enough; Marion self medicates on neat alcohol and Eva invents outrageously bizarre methods of ending it all. The female actors embody their characters wonderfully, with convincing, funny details and excellent timing. They keep up a cracking pace and barely allow breath before the next laugh.

The husbands have a tougher job to win our sympathy, but the humour of their contrasting characters is strong and ably played.

Moira Rowlinson the director, worked a miracle overcoming adversity and a complex, challenging script. The team off stage - costumes, props, scene transformation, soundtrack and front of house were effective with the audience foot tapping and singing along to the 1970s hits, a great atmosphere.

The play runs every Wednesday and Thursday until July 9 (8pm) at Grasmere Hall - it's a little gem.

Judith Notley

Tickets are available from Barney’s Newsbox Grasmere (015394-35327 during shop hours) or at the door.