My name is Martin Scholes. I like writing reviews on Ciao. I am married, we have a cockatiel and a c...
My name is Martin Scholes. I like writing reviews on Ciao. I am married, we have a cockatiel and a cat. And a growing African Grey. Who orders the cat around!
Member since:06.12.2003
Reviews:334
Members who trust:65
Alan Ayckbourn is probably one of the greatest comedic playwrights of his generation. His plays are extremely well-executed looks at the frailties and foibles of everyday life and of "ordinary" people.
The Norman Conquests (staring Tom Conti as Norman) was made by Thames Television. It is a series of individual plays that cover the weekend of a weekend at a house in the country.
The play are entitled Table Manners, Living Together, and Round and Round the Table. The audience is allowed to eavesdrop on a series of happenings and events that all involve the characters who are living at or staying at the house over the weekend. The events start at about 5.30 on the Saturday afternoon and continue through until a little after 9 on Monday morning. Each play is complete of itself, but you would miss the joy of watching everything unfold as things happen and as things go terribly wrong for the hapless inhabitants of the house. It stars Tom Conti, Penelope Wilton, Richard Briers, Fiona Walker, David Troughton, Penelope Keith, and was made in 1978. Despite the age of the film, it still stands up very well and it is obvious to see why The Norman Conquests are so popular with amateur theatre groups up and down the country.
The storyline is straightforward. To their horror, a family becomes aware Annie (played by Penelope Wilton) is working up towards having an affair with Norman (played by Tom Conti).
They each react to this disturbing news in their own way, and react in various different ways. The casting was very well realised and the comic timing of the cast first rate. It shows that the cast are all as experienced on the stage as they are on television, because this is, very much, as stage play that has been filmed for television. I think they used to call this type of play a "comedy of manners."
The comedy is very much in evidence but as are the tragic elements of the plays. For example, what do you do should you find out your husband is trying to have an affair with your sister? This is something that every fan of British theatre needs for their DVD collection. Though the lack of any extras (other than scene selection) is a pity. As is the absence of subtitles.
Should cost about £25, check on Ciao comparisons for the best deal.
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