‘Absent Friends’ was Alan Ayckbourn’s 16^th play, and it is directed for the Melville Theatre Group in Palmyra by stalwart, Susan Hayward. It is being performed until 9^th May. All shows at 8.00 pm.

          Three old mates find that the fiancée of a mutual friend, Colin (Chris Juckes), has died tragically and so Diana (Ann Speicher), Paul’s wife, suggests that they invite him around for afternoon tea in order to cheer him up. Paul (Jeff Hansen) does not agree with the idea, is he simply miserable or could there be another reason?  

         Diana is preparing for the visitor whilst non-communicative Gothic, Evelyn (Kylie Calwell) reads a magazine. Luckily, Marge (Elizabeth Jansen) arrives to help Diana and break the stony atmosphere. It is decided that there should be no mention of ‘death’ or ‘dying’ as this will upset Colin – and, incidentally, Evelyn’s blundering husband, John (Graeme Johnson - hilarious).

       However when Colin arrives, things are not what they expect. Memories of the group are recalled, both the happy ones and those that have been laid to rest.

This is totally unlike any Ayckbourn play that I have seen previously. It is NOT a farce, but rather a character study with some very funny passages. The play is actually based on the true story of a friend of Alan Ayckbourn’s wife, and her reaction to the death of her husband in a traffic accident whilst on their honeymoon.

So popular has this play been that the cast list over the years reads like a ‘Who’s who’ of the theatre. The characters are immediately recognisable as members of everyone’s family. Diana being reminiscent of Sybil in ‘Fawlty Towers’.

There is good solid direction from Sue Hayward who has chosen a superb cast, who capture their very different personalities perfectly in this most professional production.

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