R & R the Garden

The Norman Conquests:
Round & Round the Garden

Written by Alan Ayckbourn
Directed by Debbie Levin

Synopsis:

‘An insatiably frisky British sex farce’….the garden variety of Alan Ayckbourn's hilarious trilogy of plays, The Norman Conquests, recounts the incorrigible Norman's quest to bring happiness to the women in his life through romance....with him! Wildly comic and at times sweetly poignant, we meet the irritating but somehow irresistible Norman as he channels his inner Casanova to seduce not only his two sisters-in-law, but his wife Ruth as well…all at the same time. This fast-paced, roller-coaster of British comedy, described as “explosively hilarious” (London’s Guardian), provides a view into Ayckbourn's "gleefully torrid little world" (Entertainment Weekly).

Background:

Originally performed in Scarborough in 1973, The Norman Conquests opened in London in 1974 with a cast including among others Tom Courtenay as Norman, Penelope Keith as Sarah and Felicity Kendal as Annie. The trilogy premiered on Broadway in 1975 at the Morosco Theatre featuring Richard Benjamin, Ken Howard, Barry Nelson, Estelle Parsons, Paula Prentiss and Carole Shelley.

Penelope Keith reprised her role as Sarah in a Thames Television adaptation for TV in 1977. Tom Conti, featured as Norman, was joined by veteran British TV actors Penelope Wilton, Richard Briers, David Troughton and Fiona Walker to round out the cast

Kevin Spacey produced the first major London revival of The Norman Conquests at The Old Vic Theatre in 2008 featuring Stephen Mangan as Norman. The Old Vic auditorium was transformed to a theatre in the round especially for this production. The 2008 Old Vic production opened on Broadway with the London cast at the Circle in the Square Theatre on April 7, 2009, receiving numerous critical awards.

September 9th - October 1st
Friday & Saturday evenings at 8 pm
Sunday Matinees: Sept. 18 & 25 at 5 pm

Tickets
Adults $24
Seniors (62) & Students $20

Awards and Nominations:

2009: Tony Award Winner – Best Revival of a Play

2009: Tony Award Nominations – Best Direction, Performance Actor/Actress, Scenic Design

2009: Drama Desk Award Winner – Outstanding Ensemble Performance

2009: Drama Desk Award Winner – Outstanding Revival of a Play

2009: Drama Desk Award Winner – Outstanding Director of a Play – Matthew Warchus

1977: BAFTA Television Award for Best Actress – Penelope Keith

Our Cast
Harry Lipstein	Norman
Brian DeToma	Reg
Laurel Lettieri	Ruth
Paulette Layton	Sarah
Meghan O'Rourke	Annie
Patrick Kelly	Tom

Reviews:

"An old-fashioned sex farce . . . high hilarity in the hands of an expert ensemble." —San Francisco Chronicle

"A touch of slapstick . . . An extremely delightful evening of theatrical fun . . . this romp will keep you laughing from start to finish." —KGO Radio

"Uproarious! Hilarious and heartbreaking" —Variety

"Damned funny" —TIME

"Wildly boisterous" —Bloomberg.com

"Ayckbourn's dialogue crackles." —Associated Press