Woman in Mind
a comic drama by Alan Ayckbourn
If you fancy something different this summer, then let us immerse you into a different time and place with this outdoor production. We'll take you back in time to the mid 1980’s, to the small suburban garden of Susan, a vicar’s wife, who is trying to escape the difficult realities of her life.
Susan is a witty and intelligent woman who has lost her way in life and is dealing with an uncomfortable empty nest. Her estranged son Rick has left, leaving her with distracted and neglectful husband Gerald and morose sister-in-law Muriel. At the start of the play, she is being attended to by bumbling doctor, Bill who is entirely ill at ease with his job and has a habit of falling over frogs and laughing at his own jokes. It is he who first notices that all is not well with Susan.
As the drama unfolds we realise this too. Throughout the play we see everything from Susan’s perspective and it’s not long before we meet her perfect “fantasy” family, who inhabit a vast estate and play jolly games of tennis while quaffing champagne. Her debonair husband Andy, delightful daughter Lucy and fiercely protective brother Tony all provide the care and adoration in her fulfilled fantasy life that she is so starved of in reality. But when actual son Rick returns and faces her with yet more difficult realities, the fantasy and real worlds begin to collide with increasingly comic, chaotic and crushing results.
This comic drama is one of Alan Ayckbourn’s best plays and would usually be performed in a traditional theatre setting. But we are taking it outdoors to Learmonth Gardens, up at the doocot, by the canal. This spot really fits the bill, tucked between houses and in a central but quiet area of the town, with a bit of real life still happening around it, just as Susan’s small garden would be.
We’ll be using the natural light too as the sun’s rays (hopefully!) provide the warmth and colour of a summer’s day at the start of the play before the darkness begins to descend in the skies as well as in Susan’s mind. An 80’s soundtrack provides an authentic audio backdrop to the piece.
The play is a wonderful mix of serious drama and comedy, with moments of great humour, brought by both the real and fantasy characters. All are being brought to life by our excellent and hard-working cast who are throwing themselves into this classic production. A particular shout out to Daniel Todd as Rick in his first performance with the group and to Thérèse Gallacher as Susan, who never leaves the “stage” for the whole show.
A big thankyou to the Linlithgow Union Canal Society (LUCS) for kindly offering their support by allowing our team and audiences use of their facilities, which are just across the bridge at the Canal Centre.
Performances are 6th, 7th and 8th June at Learmonth Gardens (by the doocot), Strawberry Bank, Linlithgow. Performances start at 7 pm. Refreshments/bar available. Fine weather almost guaranteed but brollies advised! Tickets, £12. Only 50 tickets available per performance so book early to avoid missing out.
Susan is a witty and intelligent woman who has lost her way in life and is dealing with an uncomfortable empty nest. Her estranged son Rick has left, leaving her with distracted and neglectful husband Gerald and morose sister-in-law Muriel. At the start of the play, she is being attended to by bumbling doctor, Bill who is entirely ill at ease with his job and has a habit of falling over frogs and laughing at his own jokes. It is he who first notices that all is not well with Susan.
As the drama unfolds we realise this too. Throughout the play we see everything from Susan’s perspective and it’s not long before we meet her perfect “fantasy” family, who inhabit a vast estate and play jolly games of tennis while quaffing champagne. Her debonair husband Andy, delightful daughter Lucy and fiercely protective brother Tony all provide the care and adoration in her fulfilled fantasy life that she is so starved of in reality. But when actual son Rick returns and faces her with yet more difficult realities, the fantasy and real worlds begin to collide with increasingly comic, chaotic and crushing results.
This comic drama is one of Alan Ayckbourn’s best plays and would usually be performed in a traditional theatre setting. But we are taking it outdoors to Learmonth Gardens, up at the doocot, by the canal. This spot really fits the bill, tucked between houses and in a central but quiet area of the town, with a bit of real life still happening around it, just as Susan’s small garden would be.
We’ll be using the natural light too as the sun’s rays (hopefully!) provide the warmth and colour of a summer’s day at the start of the play before the darkness begins to descend in the skies as well as in Susan’s mind. An 80’s soundtrack provides an authentic audio backdrop to the piece.
The play is a wonderful mix of serious drama and comedy, with moments of great humour, brought by both the real and fantasy characters. All are being brought to life by our excellent and hard-working cast who are throwing themselves into this classic production. A particular shout out to Daniel Todd as Rick in his first performance with the group and to Thérèse Gallacher as Susan, who never leaves the “stage” for the whole show.
A big thankyou to the Linlithgow Union Canal Society (LUCS) for kindly offering their support by allowing our team and audiences use of their facilities, which are just across the bridge at the Canal Centre.
Performances are 6th, 7th and 8th June at Learmonth Gardens (by the doocot), Strawberry Bank, Linlithgow. Performances start at 7 pm. Refreshments/bar available. Fine weather almost guaranteed but brollies advised! Tickets, £12. Only 50 tickets available per performance so book early to avoid missing out.
Weather: If some rain is forecast the show will go ahead outdoors and we encourage you to bring something to help keep you dry. If extreme wet weather is forecast our intention is to bring the performance indoors and we will advise our audience of this (via email thorugh the ticketing website) in advance of the show.
This amateur production of “Woman in Mind” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd on behalf of Samuel French Ltd www.concordtheatricals.co.uk
This amateur production of “Woman in Mind” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd on behalf of Samuel French Ltd www.concordtheatricals.co.uk