Review: Absurd Person Singular, Theatre Royal Bath – ‘A darkly warm wry social comedy’

Well done, London Classic Theatre and Theatre Royal Bath. This mega-touring black comedy is a perfect way to ease audiences back to the joys of theatre.

Here’s Ayckbourn at the height of his Ayckbourn-ness: cringing (even self-knowing) laughs, British social anxiety and power-play.

True, there’s a dated-comedy-smidgeon of mild snobbery in the writing, but it’s punctured nicely with some very piercing observations. The social mirror might be one from the 70s, but – ouch – as this production shows, we’ve not changed as much as we like to think.

While the play often inspires talk of class, there’s much more to it than that. Now we have PhDs working in call centres and home ownership is a dream for a whole generation.

If class was all that this play was about it wouldn’t still sing – and it does. Ayckbourn’s observations about men’s treatment of women are sadly as relevant today as they were back in 1973 and he tackles mental illness, kindness and power without hammering you over the head with it.

Paul Sandys as Sidney Hopcroft, Graham O’Mara as Ronald Brewster-Wright, Rosanna Miles as Marion Brewster-Wright, Felicity Houlbrooke as Jane Hopcroft and Helen Keeley as Eva Jackson in Absurd Person Singular at Theatre Royal Bath – photo: Sheila Burnett

We’re in the kitchen at three parties for three Christmas Eves. We meet three couples and see their fortunes and relationships twist and entwine over a two-year period.

Working class Sydney (the excellent Paul Sandys) is keen to do well and wife Jane (Felicity Houlbrooke) is keen to do all she can to support him. He’s a keen eye for advancement; of who holds power; of what it will take to get on in the world.

But he lacks nous; can’t get the other men’s banter; wants to play party games; like a child, blames and shames the kindly – but equally childlike – Jane when things go wrong.

While Houlbrooke makes us ache for Jane’s vulnerability, Sandys captures the dark side of Sydney well; this is the man we should all be frightened of.

If the first party is broad near-farce, the second is a deliciously dark centre.

Eva (the impressive Helen Keeley) has just heard her eternally-philandering architect husband Geoff is leaving (played gorgeously revoltingly by John Dorney). A woman who’s battled with her mental health all her life, Eva says not one word while each of the characters distracts themselves by being “helpful” around her.

Be warned – the comedy is black indeed, though played very broad; Eva is repeatedly trying to kill herself but nobody even notices.

Paul Sandys as Sidney Hopcroft and Felicity Houlbrooke as Jane Hopcroft – photo: Sheila Burnett

For the final Christmas Eve, we’re at the freezing-cold home of our once-top-dogs: the wealthy banking couple.

Insincere, drinking-to-cope snob Marion (so convincingly played by Rosanna Miles) has taken to her bed long-term and thrown all social care to the winds, while Ronald (the utterly believable Graham O’Mara) reads his absent son’s erotic novels and stays out her way.

This time there is no party – yet everyone’s reunited for a final tableau, and a trenchant reminder that social structures are never still for long.

Director Michael Cabot has created a great ensemble show that’s a delight to watch (for all the family – my pre-teen could barely contain his glee at the darkly comic adult awfulness he was getting to see).

Simon Scullion’s sets and Kate Lyon’s costumes are pitch-perfect; top marks to the entire team.

After leaving Bath, there’s six more venues before October 16 – treat yourself to a very 2021 darkly warm piece of wry social comedy.

Absurd Person Singular is at Theatre Royal Bath until September 4. For tickets and more information, visit www.theatreroyal.org.uk/event/absurd-person-singular-2021

Main photo: Sheila Burnett

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