Major themes I thought were presented in this play were marriage, sexual equalities and woman's rights.
During the performance of Bedroom farce, the character that impressed me the most was Susannah, Trevor’s self-obsessed neurotic wife who was played by Louise Yates who I believed showed a convincing performance of a couple on the verge of divorce, which was evident throughout the play.
However I also think Kate, impressively played by Jessica Ellis gave a fine performance with exactly the right blend of warm-hearted enthusiasm and also Malcolm, played by George Banks, who showed good comic timing and a blast of slapstick as he attempted his first DIY project. Trevor also succeeded in presenting the unhappy intruder as a total airhead, yet still sweetly sympathetic.
I think the set and props used during this performance were realistic, this made the audience feel more involved and as if they were in the characters home.
The first bedroom was Ernest and Delia's. It is large and Victorian, rather out dated. The furniture consists of a double bed, bedside tables and a dressing-table and a phone by the bed. A door leads to the landing and the rest of the house, another to a bathroom. Props such as Delia’s make up and the cups Ernest used also contributed to the scene being more realistic.
The second bedroom was Malcolm and Kate's. This is a smaller room; which suggests it could be a front bedroom in a terrace house which they are in the process of converting. It is sparsely furnished, their double bed being the centrepiece. One of the walls has been re-papered, the rest are stripped as they are in the process of decorating. In one corner is a cardboard package, unopened, which happens to be Kate’s surprise that we later find out to be a set of drawers. And a box of bits and bobs (including a lamp that Susannah uses as a weapon against Trevor) There is also a tool box and various items of clothing in and around the bed. There is also a phone by the bedside. One door leads to the landing, and the rest of the house. Other props such as pans, hairbrushes and cans also make an appearance in Kate and Malcolm’s bedroom as Kate unexpectedly finds them in their bed whilst trying to get to sleep.
The third bedroom was Nick and Jan's. This is furnished in a more trendy style, the most modern out of the three. There is a rug on the floor and a phone by the bed. A single door in this room leads off to the bathroom and everywhere else. Props used in Nick and Jan’s scene are the book which Nick reads and also a jug of water and some glasses.
The stage at Theatre by the Lake is a proscenium arch space. There was one set throughout, however they run a repertoire season, which means that they need to be able to take down and put up the set every couple of days. They set Malcolm and Kate’s bedroom DSL, Nick and Jan’s DSR and Delia and Earnests USC on a raised platform. This platform was on wheels and folded up when the show was not on. Delia and Earnest’s bathroom was also on wheels. The walls for the two DS bedrooms were flats, as were the doorways into these rooms. They had 74 sound cues and 80 lighting cues. These were naturalistic. The lighting was used to help the audience know which room the action was taking place in. The sound was mainly party atmosphere, outside atmosphere, telephones and Doorbells.
The play was set in the mid 1970’s therefore the actors were dressed appropriately. Malcolm in drainpipe jeans then changed into cords and a 1970’s shirt Kate wore a floaty maxi dress, Susannah was in a hippy type of shirt and denim skirt, Jan in a nice dress. Delia wore a more dated dress which matched well with Earnest’s Dinner suit. Trevor was wearing flared jeans, Nick in blue pyjamas. Susannah, Delia, Earnest and Jan all changed into nightwear during the performance, this did not affect the scenes as they still flowed fluently. Trevor also appeared in very fetching matching vest and y-fronts in the scene at Nick and Jan’s.
As I had anticipated from its name this play was very amusing. Personally I think that Bedroom Farce was one of the best productions I have seen. I think the cast at the Theatre By the Lake delivered a very good interpretation of Ayckbourn’s play and a very witty, entertaining production.
