The British comic play How The Other Half Loves will be opened at the Hilton Hotel in Bahrain for a five-night run starting Sunday, with a bite promises to entertain theatre buffs, according to Gulf Daily News.
The play, which enjoyed a sell-out run in London, was written by Alan Ayckbourn, directed by Alexander Holt and produced by Susan Harriet.
Costarring in the performance are Victoria Burnham, Emma Christer, Adam Kelly, Bronwen Williams, Rainer Wiseman and Russell Wootton.
First staged in 1970, How The Other Half Loves is a tale of well-to-do people getting lost in the mix between social graces and personal misunderstandings.
“Ayckbourn deals with issues that are universal in their appeal and relevance, he is the master of social satire and following the huge hit that this show was in London, I believe that audiences in Bahrain are in for a treat,” the director Holt told the daily.
The play will be presented by the MXM International Hilton Playhouse in association with Tenth Planet Productions.
Alan Ayckbourn is Britain’s most successful living playwright. With How the Other Half Loves, he demonstrates his mastery of traditional comedy. Split-second timing and miscommunication drive the plot, but Ayckbourn adds a staging technique that keeps the pace of the play at break-neck speed. The Fosters’ house and the Phillips’ house occupy the same space on stage so we see both couples at the same time. This staging pays off brilliantly in a scene where two dinner parties (involving the same guests) are viewed simultaneously.
Bob and Teresa Phillips no longer communicate at all. Frank and Fiona Foster are also having marital problems, although Frank doesn’t know it. Both Bob and Fiona excuse long absences from home by claiming to be helping one of the Detweilers. Frank, thinking he is being helpful, invites the Detweilers to dinner on Thursday. Teresa, believing Bob is a liar, invites the Detweilers to dinner on Friday. Through Ayckbourn’s convention, both dinner parties are seen at the same time. The tables are set for a quick-paced roller coaster ride – Albawaba.com
