NEXT PRODUCTION

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TABLE MANNERS

BY ALAN AYKBOURN

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Date to be confirmed.

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Further to Government advice on 16/3/20 regarding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and in the interest of public health and safety, The Bartholomew Players will be postponing their production of “Table Manners” by Alan Ayckbourn until a future date. If you have bought tickets for this production from Evenlode DIY which was scheduled for May 13–16th 2020, please return them to Evenlode DIY for a full refund.

 

We do hope you will be able to support this production in November 2020 instead.

 

Please stay healthy and safe in the interim period.

 

With Kind Regards, The Cast & Crew of “Table Manners”.

 

“Table Manners” is part of Alan Ayckbourn’s well-known Trilogy “The Norman Conquests”, the other two plays being “Round and Round the Garden” and “Living Together”, but each play is complete in itself and can be played as a separate entity. First presented in 1973-1974, with a cast which included Tom Courtenay, Penelope Keith and Felicity Kendal, this is generally considered to be the funniest of the Trilogy (and by Ayckbourn himself).

Annie, bored with looking after her invalid mother, has rather unwisely agreed to go away for an illicit weekend with brother-in-law Norman. Brother Reg and his difficult wife Sarah arrive as relief carers, but when Sarah finds out about this plan, she calls Norman’s wife, Ruth, to come and put a stop to his philandering. The situation is further complicated by the presence of Tom, Annie’s slow-witted veterinary friend and would-be suitor. The play not only demonstrates Ayckbourn’s comic ability, but his clever observation of human folly as well.

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Director Debi Lisburn Diacon, says “Bartholomew Players have been wanting to perform an Ayckbourn play for some time because we believed it would prove a popular choice, and I am excited about this opportunity to direct this well-known comedy. We are delighted to welcome two talented new cast members into our midst for this production so please do come along and support your Eynsham award-winning am-dram group. The play written in 1973 addresses marital fidelity, women’s role in society and familial relations whilst also being hugely entertaining. Obviously we still have all these things in our society today so I thought it would be fun to set our production in the present day – there have been some interesting shifts in the norms, but nevertheless, plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose.”

As usual, we are partnering with a local good cause for our Supper Show, Eynsham Cricket Club, who are seeking funds to purchase new cricket equipment for their junior sections. They will assist us in organising the evening in return for a share of the profits. We look forward to seeing you!

Venue: Eynsham Village Hall, Back Lane, Eynsham, OX29 4QW
Dates: Wednesday 25th, Thursday 26th, Friday 27th and Saturday 28th November 2020
Performance Tickets – for Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday nights
Doors open: 7.00pm, Performance: 7.30pm
Price: £10.00 (concessions £9.00)
Available: in advance from Denise Santilli, 07721 744020, bart.players@gmail.com, online from www.ticketsource.co.uk/bartholomewplayers, from Evenlode DIY in Eynsham or on the door
Tickets for FRIDAY 27th November – must be purchased in advance by 22nd November
Doors open: 6.10pm, 2-course supper served: 6.30pm – 7.30pm, Performance: 7.30pm
Advance Tickets only: £20.00
Available: in advance from Denise Santilli, 07721 744020, bart.players@gmail.com (not available online)

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CAST

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Norman – Joe O’Connor

Tom – Ianto Wain

Sarah – Elaine Leggett

Annie – Kate Astley O’Connor

Reg – John Grant-Casey

Ruth – Louise Kenyon

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The play is directed by Debi Diacon and rehearsals are well underway

(see below for some rehearsal photos, kindly taken by Martin Marais).

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REHEARSALS

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Here are some rehearsal photos, kindly taken by Martin Marais