Situational comedy doesn’t need bells and whistles. Interesting people in amusing situations can be plenty. Alan Ayckbourn’s The Norman Conquests introduces six characters at their sick mother’s house over one weekend. It’s a spontaneous family reunion of sorts, and that set-up is enough to spark over six full hours of humor (broken up into three separate plays). The Norman Conquests is a lot like watching your favorite tv sitcom live; it’s neither deep nor insightful, but it’s ripe with jokes and one-liners that you’ll most likely quote for weeks to come. And since the plays are considerably longer than your average 23 minute TV show, there is more time to get to know the characters, and more development of the plot’s antics. Plus, it’s British humor so the play is both physical and over-the-top as well as dry and biting; it’s a brilliant combination that makes for a hilariously entertaining theatrical experience.
The Norman Conquests was written in the 1973 and takes place during that time in England. This revival comes straight from a sold-out run at The Old Vic in London and includes the exact same cast. That’s a good thing; I haven’t seen as strong an ensemble on Broadway in a very long time. Led by Stephen Mangan as Norman, the cast awkwardly navigates through an uncomfortable weekend with in-laws and infidelity. They all have the comic chops to keep you laughing while at the same time making their characters sadly sympathetic.
The story is pretty straightforward. Annie (Jessica Hynes) lives with her sick mother and acts as her caretaker. She is having a secret affair with her brother-in-law Norman and the two are supposed to go away together for the weekend. Annie asks her brother Reg (Paul Ritter) and his wife Sara (Amanda Root) to come take care of Mother while Annie’s away (presumably vacationing by herself as no one knows about her tryst). When Norman arrives at the house at the same time as Reg and Sara, the situation gets sticky and secrets are spilled. Norman’s wife Ruth (Amelia Bullmore) is called to the house by nosy Sara and Annie’s maybe-boyfriend Tom the vet (Ben Miles) is still trying to understand if he has and/or wants a shot with Annie. Tempers flare and antics ensue. (more…)
