REVIEW: Just Between Ourselves, Royal & Derngate, Northampton, Friday, May 29
By Paul Fisher
If you are a fan of Alan Ayckbourn's farcical romps, which have become loved by theatre goers up and down the country, then Just Between Ourselves may not be for you.
In this very dark comedy we see a different Ayckbourn writing and with the exception of the third act there is little in the way of his usual witty one liners or situational gags.
While superbly played by Lucy Briers, Matthew Cottle, Dorothy Atkinson, and Kim Wall, I fail to remember a single joke in the fourth scene finale of the performance, which had an ending which left me cold.
What begins in familiar Ayckbourn territory soon veers off into a play that finds two couples on the verge of collapse and mental illness.
It pulls no punches and the humour, as described in the show's programme, "can only be described as painful."
The play nevertheless is a wonderful piece of writing, but theatre goers should expect an emotional drama rather than an Ayckbourn farce.
Just Between Ourselves runs until Saturday, June 13.
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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