Posted by
James on June 30, 2010 at 3:32pm
Englands famous seducer of other mens wives lays siege to his sister-in-law in the first battle of Ayckbourns celebrated trilogy The Norman Conquests. In Table Manners, the action occurs in the dining room of Mothers house, where a conventional middle-class family is attempting to have a pleasant country weekend. But they are no match for Norman, the bane of the family, who horrifies everyone by doing exactly as he likes.
A L.A. Theatre Works full-cast performance featuring: Rosalind Ayres, Kenneth Danziger, Martin Jarvis, Jane Leeves, Christopher Neame, Carolyn Seymour
more information:
"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. Plus, it’s British humor so the play is both physical and over-the-top as well as dry and biting (...).
The Norman Conquests was written in the 1973 and takes place during that time in England."
"The Norman Conquests is presented as three plays, but all take place simultaneously and all stand alone. You don’t need to see more than one play to understand the story, but seeing more than one lets you in on some fantastic inside jokes. It’s in your best interest to see all three if you have the time and money, just because they’re incredibly entertaining. Each play takes place in a different room; Table Manners is in the dining room, Living Together is in the sitting room and Round and Round the Garden occurs outside in the garden. The plays are presented as theatre in the round with the audience on all sides. Only one room is visible per play so when actors exit that room, they are going to other rooms in the house. The conversations that are occurring offstage are presumably what the audience will see if and when they watch the other two plays."L.A. Theatre Works Table_Manners_ONE.mp3
L.A. Theatre Works Table_Manners_TWO.mp3
Replies
Hi James, there's also a BBC version. They had the first part already on, the next 2 will follow I think:
1/3. Table Manners - A weekend of tangled relationships begins in the dining room of a country house.
"A trilogy of plays by Alan Aykbourn about tangled relationships in a country house that take place concurrently over a single weekend, and can be presented in any order.
It stars Robin Herford (as Norman), Diane Bull (as Annie), Tessa Peak Jones (as Sarah), with Simon Jones, John Strickland and Lisa Rider.
It's produced by Gordon House."
The Norman Conquests Table Manners 26-02-11.mp3
The Norman Conquests Living Together 05-03-11.mp3
The Norman Conquests Round and Round the Garden 12-03-11.mp3
You seem to have a taste for the odd. I like that in a person. Thank You.-------------------------------------------Rick
TABLE MANNERS: The events of one weekend as seen from the dining room. In which Reg finds food rather scarce despite having it thrown at him by Sarah... Sarah is scandalised by Annie... Annie is disappointed by men in general and Tom in particular... Tom knocks down Norman... Norman's romantic proposals are ruined thanks to Ruth... Ruth loses her patience, her temper and her glasses... and in which everyone has trouble deciding where to sit...
LIVING TOGETHER: The events of one weekend as seen from the Sitting Room. In which Reg is driven mad by Tom... Tom tells Annie a thing or two... Annie nearly comes to blows with Sarah... Sarah sees a different side of Norman... Norman sorts things out with Ruth... Ruth discovers the charms of a fireside rug... and in which nobody enjoys playing board games...
ROUND AND ROUND THE GARDEN: The events of one weekend as seen from the Garden. In which Ruth thoroughly confuses Tom... Tom succeeds in asking Annie... Annie gets a glimpse of Norman's pyjamas... Norman tells Sarah stories by moonlight... Sarah disapproves of Reg's outdoor sports... and in which everyone gets to roll in the grass...