Henry Bell is a 42-year-old executive, divorced and recently fired from his job, and Karen Knightly is 25-years-old, wealthy, very eccentric, and recently abandoned by her lover Anthony Staxton-Billing, who opted to return to his wife Imogen.
Both are intent on committing suicide by leaping from the Albert Bridge in London. When neither succeeds, they strike a bargain whereby each agrees to exact revenge on behalf of the other.
Thus starts a very black comedy.
Karen Knightly.........Lia Williams
Henry Bell.........Jon Strickland
Imogen Staxton-Billing.........Barbara Flynn
Oliver Knightly.........Adam Godley
Bruce Tick.........Jeff Shankley
Colonel Lipscott.........Jack May
Winnie.........Jenny Howe
Anthony Staxton-Billing.........George Parsons
Percy Cutting.........Malcolm Ward
Norma.........Deborah Berlin
Lady Ganton.........Margaret John
Daphne Teale.........Tina Gray
Lydia Lucas.........Natasha Pyne
Mrs Bulley.........Christine Millward
Tracey Willingforth.........Susanna Corbett
Veronica Webb.........Jennifer Piercey
Jeremy Pride.........Derek Waring
Motorcyclist.........Ian Masters
Directed by Gordon House
Part 1 http://ge.tt/6JUeHpe/v/0
Part 2 http://ge.tt/18K4Lpe/v/0
Replies
Thank you for the program.
One of my favorite Ayckbourn works! A bit more info:
When depressed businessman Henry Bell and aristocrat Karen Knightly save each other's life one night, an intricate revenge plot is hatched which will punish an enemy and destroy a life. Revengers' Comedies stars Lia Williams, Jon Strickland and Barbara Flynn and was directed by Head of Radio Drama,
Gordon House. In fact, Williams was awarded the 1991 London Critics Circle Theatre Award for Most Promising Newcomer for this performance so I do recommend it wholeheartedly. The second and concluding part can be heard at the same time next week."
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The piece starts with a brief prologue on Albert Bridge, SW3 at midnight. Two strangers meet there. Henry, a 42 year old executive, divorced and recently made redundant, and Karen, 25 rich, beautiful, upper class and decidedly eccentric. Both are apparently trying to jump off the bridge and end it all. (Karen has been crossed in love).
As a result of their meeting, they drive to Karen's huge mid Victorian country home in Dorset where they strike a bargain whereby each agrees to exact revenge on behalf of the other.
“This one will be a bit of an epic,” said Alan Ayckbourn when The Revengers’ Comedies was announced in the Scarborough Evening News. It was an understatement.
In 1989, Alan Ayckbourn decided to celebrate his 50th birthday by writing an ambitious two-part play, The Revengers’ Comedies, an epic piece set over five hours with more than 20 characters, played by 14 actors.
The plays were inspired by Alan’s great love of the cinema as a young man and it references many notable movies, the most obvious being Strangers On A Train. The filmic influence was carried through to the actual production as Alan envisioned a fast-moving play set in London and the countryside. Scenes are often short and move rapidly from one place to the next, offering a tremendous technical challenge.
Perhaps the audience had also changed. It was obvious Alan had moved away from the suburban house-bound comedies which had propelled him to fame. His plays were now altogether different and darker. Yet though the Scarborough audiences embraced Alan’s development, there is a sense that London audiences still wanted Ayckbourn the farceur to return. Of course, this was never going to happen.
Thanks for the additional info. I would love to have been in the recording studio when Lia Williams cried out "revenge". I wouldn't have been able to keep a straight face.
Thanks, William!
Thank you!