THE Northcott Theatre Company, Exeter, present a new production of Alan Ayckbourn's darkly humorous 'Just Between Ourselves' from February 17-March 4.
The first of Ayckbourn's truly black comedies, this play not only lifts the covers off the seething tensions of suburbia but also — ultimately — pulls the rug from under the audience's feet.
Dennis is a relentlessly cheerful DIY enthusiast, and a bad one at that. Nothing in his house works, including his marriage to Vera.
Given the choice between marriage and garage, Dennis has retreated to the latter, oblivious to the fact that Vera is slowly losing her mind. Dennis' habit of laughing everything off, and the barbed comments of his manipulative and possessive mother Marjorie, are pushing Vera to the brink of madness. The trio are joined by Neil and Pam, an outwardly nice couple with problems of their own.
Just Between Ourselves is directed by Robin Herford and designed by Michael Holt who have both enjoyed a long association with Ayckbourn's Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough, and worked together on many occasions.
Dennis is played by Jon Strickland who has worked extensively with both Ayckbourn and Robin Herford, premiering and appearing for 18 months in the long-running West End hit 'The Woman in Black' which Robin commissioned and directed. Ian Targett, who plays Neil, appeared at the Northcott in 1995 in the touring version of 'The Woman in Black'.
Lesley Meade, playing Vera, appeared in more that 30 productions at Scarborough, including two Ayckbourn world premieres.
She was the original ghost in The Woman in Black.
Ellen Sheean plays Marjorie and Alexandra Mathie plays Pam
With such an accomplished company, and a play which features the best of Alan Ayckbourn's surgical wit, Just Between Ourselves promises to be an unmissable evening of black humour.