Page 40 - BN1 July-Aug 2019 web

JOKING

APART

ALAN AYCKBOURN’S FAN
FAVOURITE COMES TO
BOAT

BY STUART ROLT
Written in 1978, Alan Ayckbourn’s gently acerbic Joking Counties to a semi-detached three bedroomed house,
Apart pulls apart the middle-class psyche. It’s four scenes, which her parents had never been able to do. There was
all staged at the soirees of a seemingly perfect couple, a definite sense of pleasure in this, but they did constantly
chart the growing misanthropy of their friendship circle. compare themselves to other people.”
Four decades on from its West End debut, Patric Kearns
brings this nuanced comedy of suburban manners to For Kearns, the biggest task is staging this work outside,
Brighton Open Air Theatre. “The great thing is that it’s all or at least turning BOAT’s stage into a suburban garden
set in a garden, over a period of 12 years,” he enthuses. for fictional barbecues and Bonfire Night celebrations.
“For me, it makes open-air theatre a little bit more He’s well-versed in staging performances at the venue,
believable.” As the piece progresses through the years, it this being his fourth visit. “The people of Brighton seem
reveals one theme. Whenever their genial hosts slip away, to be embracing the idea. It’s a really nice place to sir,
to prepare more drinks, guests fill time with uncomfortable have a picnic and watch some drama. The beauty of
silences or idle gossip. the challenge is to identify plays which will work in that
environment.” There’s also the problem of adequately
Ayckbourn traded almost exclusively in middle-class defining the time periods of each scene. Establishing
characters who felt bewildered by their circumstances. 1966, 1970, 1974 and 1978 each requires great attention
His work played a protagonist’s class and identity, but to details like 333music and fashions.
traditional notions of prestige were already being eroded
by the time Joking Apart was written. Post-war Britain Across those years, the same group of people meet up
saw identity become consumer driven. It was a period and reveal their unravelling personal circumstances and
of prosperity and aspiration, where the Metroland idyll growing resentment. Their hosts, Richard and Anthea,
inspired rapid expansion of suburbia. If your status was seem warm, generous, carefree and successful. So
to be elevated, you had to ‘keep up with the Jones.’ why do they keep inviting these people over? Are they
Nowadays, your standing in the world is almost completely oblivious to the resentment, or is it a treatise on the nature
governed by financial choice - what music you listen of friendship? They’re not a typically dysfunctional couple,
to, the clothes you wear and the adventures you chase. which sets them apart from the majority of Ayckbourn’s
Social media presents a perfectly curated existence to idiosyncratic characters. “I would describe them as the
peers. It might be from a different age, yet the Image golden couple who everyone aspires to be, but inevitably
crafting and envy traced throughout Joking Apart remains they’re actually not as golden as everyone thinks. I’m sure
relevant. “People are innately quite competitive. Nobody that’s true in real life. As you grow older, there’s all sorts of
likes to give the impression their lives aren’t 100% perfect. things you have to overcome, and you can think you’re the
Now social media has taken that over. I can remember my only family experiencing that crisis. But when you talk to
parents, and they’d be very competitive about what they other people you find everyone’s in the same boat.”
had in comparison to other people in their peer group.
My Mum was very proud, because she’s come from a Joking Apart comes to Brighton Open air theatre on Weds
working-class background and she’d moved to the Home 31 July – Sun 4 Aug.

40 bn1magazine.co.uk