Ten Times Table is the inaugural production of THE Classic Comedy Theatre Company, produced by Bill Kenwright. There’s a superb line up of acting talent in this production and that’s one of the strongest things going for it. The plot takes us into the faded ‘grand’ ballroom of the local Swan Hotel, a most miscellaneous assemblage gathers to conduct the business of the Pendon Folk Festival, led by excitable chairman Ray. Unfortunately, for Ray, his calamitous committee quickly divides, as his wife Helen has a bone to pick with just about anyone. Add a Marxist schoolteacher, a military dog-breeder and an octogenarian secretary, and the table is set for one of Ayckbourn’s comedy/farce plays.
The cast do well with what is a mostly obnoxious grouping of people to engage with, no one took my sympathy on stage and I didn’t feel connected to the story but the silver haired audience around me seemed to approve of the repression, petty meanness, social brutality and parochial idealism displayed on stage. Eastbourne writ large in front of us perhaps.
The play feels dated, not only with in it’s setting, late 70’s England but also its social attitudes. Then there are flashes of superbly contemporary settings, is life becoming a joke? do these go in circles? or has Ayckbourne just uncovered an unchanging part of English sensibility. It’s not a British play this but an English one, and its examination of class, and social interactions through the life of a committee works well.
The first half is all set up and back story before the second half opens with some lovely ranting and the pressure is racked up. The narrative pace picks up, the costumes changes highlighting the absurdity and the play brings itself to a decent enough climax.
The smallest amount of lines but the biggest laughs of the night went to Elizabeth Power as the slightly befuddled mother of the boring local councillor, Powell knows the value of less-is-more and the audience adored her. Robert Duncan’s portrayal of alcoholic Lawrence is a spot-on depiction of man whose life is in freefall. Harry Gostelow’s portrayal of jingoistic brother, manic ex-soldier and bonkers dog breeder is wonderfully feverish with a hearty touch of the Price Phillip about him, he lights up the second act.
The set is lovely, faded and dingy but perfectly presented, with some superb lighting.
Not a particularly thrilling evening at the theatre, but then Ayckbourn is what he is. If you’re a fan, you’ll enjoy this rarely seen and curiously situated piece of his work.
At the delightfully comfortable and very reasonably priced Devonshire Park Theatre
