Review of Alan Ayckbourn's Bedroom Farce by the Apollo Players

This should be a given, being that the play is an Alan Ayckbourn classic, so it all hinged on the delivery of the actors and the direction.

Luckily all this was solid and really worked - with some stand out performances and some set decisions that helped it along its way.

The set was brilliant. Three bedrooms set up on stage, with lights going on and off (perfect timing) each time a bedroom scene was active, with plenty of doors in and out and room for movement.

Steve Reading and Anthea Weekes as Malcolm and Kate (Image: Paul Jennings)

This was quite a physical comedy and although the Apollo is a small theatre, the stage is pretty big and was used to full advantage here.

The four couples in the play showcased fighting (physical and verbal), writhing around and storming off, plus comings and goings - all of which kept the audience's interest piqued.

Stuart Egan and Vicki Cook as Trevor and Susannah (Image: Paul Jennings)

Talking of physical comedy, Steve Taverner as Nick deserves a mention here! His character was somewhat incapacitated in bed with a bad back and I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up with one in real life! 

Poor Steve spent the entire evening either laying on the hard floor or in uncomfortable positions on the bed - but gave a brilliantly funny performance and was my highlight of the show. I hope he's not too incapacitated himself by the end of the run.

All the actors did a great job, especially considering Stuart Egan (Trevor) and Ian Moth (Ernest) stepped in pretty last minute to take on their roles - no-one would ever have known had it not been written in the programme.

Strong performances came from Maggie Cardew as Delia, Steve Reading as Malcolm, Helen Reading as Jan, Anthea Weekes as Kate and Vicki Cook as a very flaky Susannah.

Ian Moth and Maggie Cardew as Ernest and Delia (Image: Paul Jennings)

Apollo Players, under the direction of Gwen Stevens, pulled this one off. Eight actors, four couples, three bedrooms and hopefully lots of full houses during the run.

Catch the play until February 10 (no shows on Sunday or Monday).