UK Theatre Network

They sat down again!

First produced in 1998, Alarms and Excursions examines our fraught relationship with machines and our attitudes to technological innovation. Michael Frayn’s eight revue-style sketches also show the numbing homogeneity of public buildings, particularly hotels, and our apparent inability to communicate with each other. Oddly hilarious and provocatively  meaningful this play introduces us to the trials and tribulations of 24 different characters played by four very talented actors.

In the first play we watch a dinner party ending in complete chaos. Two couples are having a quiet evening together. Struggling with their “pockets full of electronics” they fail at the simple task of opening a bottle of wine because the technology of the corkscrew is too complicated. A strange noise – a chink – keeps irritating them before it is eventually drowned out by a cacophony of electronic noises. One of the guests even ends up in the emergency room trying to beat technology.

After this mayhem we are welcomed to a hotel by the third elevator from the left and guided into the rooms of two nice, English couples on holiday in a strange land where “Chuck out time is noon”. Wondering what country they are in at the moment they find a “charming sense of déjà vu” in their hotel rooms which seem identical to all other hotel rooms except for the location of the bathroom. Kevin wryly remarks: “It’s diabolical how they move the bathrooms around in these places.” Paper thin walls increase the proximity of the two couples thereby making them too aware of each other. 

Robert Daws, Belinda Lang, Aden Gillett (after his wonderful performance in Accolade) and Serena Evans play all 24 characters and it is a delight watching their battle with technology and their failure to communicate. Caught up in embarrassing situations and utterly confused by a technology overload the characters struggle with dinner guests who simple won’t leave, a spouse who will finish every single sentence for you, a business conference from hell with food and drinks but no tables, and a unique security demonstration on an airplane. My favourite sketch was Immobiles – a somewhat nostalgic play about answering machines, a German tourist, the wrong airports, and old ladies in sordid pubs.

Until 30 July 2011

Richmond Theatre
The Green
Richmond
Surrey
TW9 1QJ

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