Improbable Friction; Sinodun Players; Wallingford Corn Exchange, March 23-27 (From Herald Series)

Improbable Friction; Sinodun Players; Wallingford Corn Exchange, March 23-27

9:00am Wednesday 3rd March 2010

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IMAGINATIONS run riot at a meeting of a writers’ circle in Alan Ayckbourn’s Improbable Fiction.

Sinodun Players are staging the play, which was inspired by Ayckbourn giving a talk to a real-life writers’ circle. During the course of his talk, it became obvious to him that none of the circle’s members had probably ever written anything in their lives — and it was more of a social circle than a writing one.

Improbable Fiction will be staged at the Corn Exchange, Wallingford, from Tuesday to Saturday, March 23 to 27, at 7.45pm.

In 2005, Ayckbourn decided to mark the 50th anniversary of the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, with the play — a light-hearted celebration of the power of the imagination. He was artistic director at the theatre from 1972 to 2009.

Returning to his fictional town of Pendon, Ayckbourn weaves a drama about the town’s writing circle and what happens when the imaginations of its members are unleashed, thanks to the presence of a rather ordinary girl who holds a mysterious allure.

The play is being directed for the Players by Chris Harris, who said: “I saw Sir Alan’s original production on tour. The characters — the Pendon Writers’ Circle — provided a fascinating first act. But at the very end, something happened — a coup de theatre —which absolutely poleaxed me. I was baffled. I spent the interval wondering what on earth could possibly happen next. And, of course, I ended up laughing even more at act two than at act one.”

He said: “Of course, there is darkness in much of the author’s hugely varied output of 70 plays. But this one has no such undertones. We know officially, from the great man himself, that it is designed purely and simply as a piece of entertainment. And hence another comparison with a great master — ‘The Master’ himself, Noel Coward, and his ‘talent to amuse’. Improbable Fiction is as light as a feather, but still a perfect work of art. Let us not disparage simple fun.”

The play’s title is taken from William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, when the character Fabian says: “If this were played upon a stage now, I could condemn it as improbable fiction.”

Explaining the choice of Ayckbourn, Mr Harris said: “Alan Ayckbourn is a towering genius. Because audiences trust his name on the poster, of course we hope to do excellent business at the box office. Actors trust him too. He writes miraculous parts, perhaps especially for women. His characters are such a joy to play because we instantly recognise them through the marvellous rhythm of the dialogue, yet they also hint subtly at an inner life which the actor has to find and reveal.

“The man was, of course, a successful actor in repertory theatre. His instinct for what works is perhaps unmatched by any recent writer except his fellow actor Harold Pinter.”

Mr Harris said: “The actors average about four parts each. Of course, I envy them this unique challenge — who wouldn’t?”

He said: “Any theatre company can only thrive through teamwork. I don’t know of another play which sets such extraordinary tasks alike to actors, stage management, sound, lights and wardrobe. And Sinodun Players are fortunate indeed that we have the resources to take this on.

“I offered to direct it, knowing that if we get it right, there will be much joy on both sides of the footlights. I shall try hard to bring absolutely nothing special to it, for this is in no way ‘director’s theatre’, which, anyhow, I abominate. I shall try to help the play to speak clearly for itself. The audience should emerge — as I did that first time — with lightened hearts and a grin on their faces.”

Tickets for the first night are £7 and for other nights £8. The box office, (01491) 825000, opens on Fridays and Saturdays from 10am to 1pm.

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