The Girl Next Door - Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough

[mkb]

It's become an annual tradition of mine to travel to the delightful and quintessential working-class seaside town of Scarborough for the latest Alan Ayckbourn piece.

So it was that I caught "The Girl Next Door" last Saturday, featuring the Red (main) cast.  (The Blue cast and crew are on standby should anyone become C19 positive.)

This is Ayckbourn at his very best.  He repeats the time-travel gimmick previously used in 1994's "Communicating Doors", in order to explore changing gender roles and attitudes, contrasting the current pandemic with the Blitz.

Great acting (especially from Naomi Petersen), faultless direction from Ayckbourn, superb set, sound and lighting designs (as is the norm at this in-the-round venue), make for a highly entertaining outing.

Running time is just under 2:30, and it's on until 3 July.  According to an email yesterday, a recording will then be available to stream for a short period.

[TallPaul]

I'm sure there's a good reason, but the initial run of this is ridiculously short. Maybe it's the cost of paying for two casts?

There is currently a huge gap in the SJT's programme from mid-August, which is bizarre for not just a theatre in a seaside resort, but a theatre in a seaside resort at a time when many will be holidaying closer to home.

Perhaps with the universally positive reviews, including from many London critics, it will come back and/or have a further life elsewhere?

(And on this occasion, because I'm feeling kind, I'm going to overlook Scarborough being described as a quintessential working-class town. 🙂)

[joem]

I checked on whether I could get there last Thursday. Despite being quoted £1,200 for two flights from London to Leeds (best offer only two tickets left at this price), wouldn't have made it on time.

It is a universally acknowledged frustration for me that every Ayckbourn play is not automatically transferred to London. Bizarre. Inexplicable.

[drowseychap]

I agree with the review earlier I traveled the 150 miles just to see this new play ... as I did in previous years loved birthdays past / present too
Such a top class production everything about it was quality from beginning to end ... very ingenious set too. Superb acting 🎭 the whole experience was wonderful down to the welcome and care from the staff .... shame to see it so empty due to covid restrictions .... still some great laughs and enthusiastic applause 👏
Hope this does get a new longer run or transfer. Maybe the new vic ? Which is in the round too
The play is now One of my favourites along with communicating doors.

[Jan]

Jun 23, 2021 1:05:48 GMT drowseychap said:

Hope this does get a new longer run or transfer. Maybe the new vic ? Which is in the round too

Young Vic ? The chances of them picking it up are less than zero. 

There was a time long long ago Ayckbourn used to transfer stuff to the NT, and so he should as possibly our greatest living playwright. 

[samuelwhiskers]

The New Vic is a theatre in Newcastle. Lots of Ayckbourn plays have transferred there.

[Someone in a tree]

I'm so London centric I instantly thought of the Young Vic.

As the good Dr advises the YV wouldn't touch it with a barge pole as its not worthy enough.

[Jan]

Jun 23, 2021 8:19:52 GMT samuelwhiskers said:

The New Vic is a theatre in Newcastle. Lots of Ayckbourn plays have transferred there.

Oh ? Apologies I didn’t know. The last play I saw in Newcastle was in 1967 so I may be a bit out of touch.

[princeton]

And to add to the confusion the New Vic is in Newcastle, Staffordshire, not Newcastle, Tyne and Wear.

[Jan]

Jun 23, 2021 12:17:38 GMT princeton said:

And to add to the confusion the New Vic is in Newcastle, Staffordshire, not Newcastle, Tyne and Wear.

There’s one in Staffordshire ? Come to think of it I don’t even know where Staffordshire is.

[samuelwhiskers]

The only reason I know is that I was recommended to email someone there about a job and accidentally wrote “Young Vic”. Oops. Didn’t hear back, surprisingly.

I didn’t know till now that it’s not in *that* Newcastle!

[drowseychap]

Jun 23, 2021 7:39:25 GMT Jan said:

Jun 23, 2021 1:05:48 GMT drowseychap said:

Hope this does get a new longer run or transfer. Maybe the new vic ? Which is in the round too

Young Vic ? The chances of them picking it up are less than zero. 

There was a time long long ago Ayckbourn used to transfer stuff to the NT, and so he should as possibly our greatest living playwright. 

No I mean the New vic theatre near stoke they often run the plays there after Scarborough .... they really should have a London run though .... love to see his top 5 in rep what a dream that would be ...

[drowseychap]

Yep Newcastle under Lyme which actually is really stoke or Hanley in stoke. Very confusing ... but a great theatre in the round great staff and cafe too

[drowseychap]

This great play is available to live stream until 5 July

[Jan]

Ayckbourn is woefully under-represented on the London stage these days. For those interested Jermyn Street are reviving his very early play "Relatively Speaking" in September/October. I have seen it before and it was very funny but as that was 50 years ago I can't guarantee that it still is !

[Jan]

Jul 2, 2021 8:17:54 GMT kit66 said:

I seem to remember that after some "mistreatment" of one of his plays - Damsels in Distress - he said he didn't want any of his plays produced in the West End again although the recent Felicity Kendal revival of Relatively Speaking at the Wyndhams was extremely good.

West End is one thing but the subsidised sector is another - they will revive plays by the relatively unpopular Caryl Churchill but not any by him although in my view he is the more significant playwright.

[TallPaul]

Returning, briefly, to the SJT, from 1 to 4 September. Then transferring, briefly, to the New Vic, which isn't in London or *that* Newcastle, from 7 to 18 September. 🙂

[alicechallice]

Jul 13, 2021 9:48:51 GMT TallPaul said:

Returning, briefly, to the SJT, from 1 to 4 September. Then transferring, briefly, to the New Vic, which isn't in London or *that* Newcastle, from 7 to 18 September. 🙂

Please do accept our apologies on behalf of our less worldly forum members, they barely leave Fortnum's most days.  

[TallPaul]

I've probably bumped into some of them. Back in the olden days when I was in London for a matinee, I always popped into Fortnum & Mason for a complimentary squirt of West Indian Limes.