Birthdays Past, Birthdays Present
by Alan Ayckbourn
The Caxton Players
Caxton Theatre
Grimsby
10 - 17 June 2023
Birthdays Past, Birthdays Present marks director Gillian Shields' debut as a director on the main stage at the Caxton Theatre and she delivers a triumphant time-travelling comedy by that master of British theatre, Alan Ayckbourn. The play had been chosen by long-time Caxton favourite, the late Pam Reynolds as her next production but when it became obvious that her battle with illness would prevent her directing the show, she asked Gillian Shields to step in and guide the show to the stage. She has done so magnificently and it is a fitting tribute to both Pam and Gillian that the show shines.
84-year old Alan Ayckbourn is the most performed modern British playwright and to date has written 89 full-length plays. This play was his 83rd. I had the privilege of being introduced to the great man by former Caxton Player Richard Stacey who became a great favourite of Aykbourn and performed in many of his plays. Ironically, I was accompanied on that trip to the Stephen Joseph Theatre by the late, great Pam Reynolds. These facts made it bittersweet for me to review this production and brought back so many fond memories.
The basic premise of this play is relatively simple, we witness an ordinary family, feuding over a series of birthdays spanning four decades. We meet family members and associated plus ones and can easily identify with said family. So far, so good. The twist ere is that we begin at the end and work back to the start. The play opens on Micky's 80th birthday (the same birthday the playwright celebrated the year of the play's premiere). Micky and wife Meg are awaiting the arrival of their guests popping in to celebrate the big day. Son Adrian will be attending with his new lady friend, Grace. Grace is a rather overly-exuberant people pleaser that might be described by some as a spinster.
Micky, worrying for the girl decides it is absolutely necessary to share a deep family secret with Grace to avoid her getting hurt. Adrian is a sexual Superman with near-galactic powers in the bedroom and an absolute animal. This may seem a rather odd thing for a father to warn his son's girlfriend about, but it cannot prepare the audience for the sexual athlete that is Adrian. Adrian is far from the stereotypical womaniser, quite the opposite in fact. He is a slightly stuffy, fussy bookkeeper who has been unlucky in love throughout his entire life. We only discover what the truth is by delving into the family's past over preceding significant birthdays until the truth is revealed. Meanwhile, the audience are guaranteed a joyous experience trying to figure out what on Earth was happening as the cast visibly de-age before their very eyes.
A talented cast of four performers bring the family shenanigans to life. Micky the octogenarian birthday boy is played with great vigour by Chris Dempsey who memorably appeared previously in Jeeves and Wooster A Perfect Nonsense. Here he works his way back from a doddery old man with mobility and bladder issues to a happy-go-lucky man in his forties looking out for his two kids. The way in which he seems to grow in energy as the play progresses is marvellous. He makes an ideal instigator for the troubles on display.
His wife Meg is both loyal and loving as a wife and mother to her two children (even though one of them never makes any effort to show up to the birthdays being celebrated). Jo Forster gives a starkly different performance to her last outing on the main stage in Theft, though the carnage of Meg's 60th birthday party may bring to mind the inebriated wife of the former play! This performance will undoubtedly be a favourite for some time to come.
Loyal, loving and caring (sex-machine) Adrian is played by a newcomer to the Caxton Players, Samuel Pearson. Pearson has been seen many times locally performing with Fusion Youth Theatre in his younger days and more recently with Breakwater Theatre who he joined to perform With Love From Ruhleben. He will soon be seen operating puppets in Cap'n Fishcake and His Fabulous Fish Fingers as part of Grimsby's Festival of the Sea next month. Here, he makes an impressive debut as the cuddly, fumbling Adrian who harbours a deep secret that loyalty prevents him from disclosing even under duress. His antics provide the engine for the narrative and will undoubtedly cause great laughter when the show opens.
All the other women in Adrian's life are performed by two highly accomplished actors in Liz Drury and Louise Blakey. Drury portrays Adrian's ex-wife Faith and his first love Hope. The contrast between the two characters is excellent and the difference in posture and carriage between each is most notable. Her portrayal of Faith as a nervous bundle of energy at the end of her tether contrasts beautifully with her delicate performance of the young Hope.
Stealing the show however, is Louise Blakey who could not be portraying two more opposite characters in Grace and Charity. I love watching Blakey's comic creations whenever se appears and this performance is no exception. Her overly nice, fussy, considerate people pleasing Grace is everybody's idea of a frumpy maiden aunt that you would expect to meet (as Adrian did) at the church coffee morning. The difference between Grace and Charity is wonderful. Charity is a woman who sells her sexual favours for money and pays Adrian a visit on his thirtieth birthday. Her outrageous behaviour will have many audience members choking in disbelief as she and Adrian embark on a drunken game of "Strip Animal Snap".
This play is a wonderful tribute to Pam and a welcome debut for Gillian Shields. I have no doubt that audiences will adore this gem of a production and word of mouth will be excellent. The play runs from Saturday 10 June to Saturday 17. Tickets are available through all the usual outlets which can be found on the poster below.
Andy Evans 10 June 2023
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