Life of Riley – Theatre Royal, Brighton

Writer: Alan Ayckbourn

Director: Alan Ayckbourn

Reviewer: David Griffiths

The Public Reviews Rating:

Very recognisable as an Ayckbourn play this may be but as usual his characters have an earthy quality that makes this production worth a visit.

What is unusual is that the main character in the play George Riley never actually appears, though his influence reaches into every corner. The use of an offstage character is a technique the writer admits to using on many occasions though uniquely this time he is the main protagonist.

It is surely to the credit of both the writer and the small cast that one quickly conjures a picture of this loveable rogue who will dominate the lives of all who come into contact with him, however indirectly.

George is dying. And with months to live is encouraged to use his remaining time treading the boards in an “am-dram.” And via a combination of admiration, guilt, and pity, friends wives and lovers of various vintages decide to make his last days as comfortable as possible. How comfortable would be giving too much away but suffice to say it is not hard to imagine George with a permanent smile on his face. Whilst one imagines that he is the sort of individual never short of someone to do his bidding this must be a source of immense satisfaction to him as he deeply affects the lives of all the cast.

And what of the cast? Three couples are all you see but they provide sufficient interest, humour and pathos to keep the play ticking along for the most part at a lively pace. Liza Goddard as Kathryn and husband Colin played by Kim Wall are adept at playing the couple well into the advanced bickering stage with added point scoring. Both characters initially have little about them to like but by the end, to their credit, one has grown to have a grudging admiration for both of them.

Laura Howard plays the wife who abandoned George for the rugged farmer (Jamie Kenna) but perhaps it is Laura Doddington who plays “Essex girl” Tamsin to husband Jack (Ben Porter) who steals the limelight with her highly amusing portrayal of a “tart with a heart.”

Despite the simple premise the play does keep one interested with its clever characterisations and comic moments. At one stage it almost resembles a farce and then the next there are moments of quiet reflection. A neat twist at the end provided general amusement though I’m indebted to the elderly lady behind me who announced to her long suffering hubby that she knew all along it was coming. Perhaps a new writing career beckons. I’m sure the great Alan Ayckbourn would be only too happy to assist!