Relatively Speaking
Alan Ayckbourn
This quintessential comedy of mistaken identity follows Greg, who, suspicious of his girlfriend Ginny’s visit to her parents, follows her to the country. He finds himself in the garden of Sheila and Philip, believing them to be her mother and father, while they are actually her former lover and his wife. The resulting confusion is a masterclass in Ayckbourn’s early farce, exploring middle-class infidelities and the hilarity of polite, misinterpreted conversation. It remains one of the most popular and enduring British comedies of the 1960s, launching Ayckbourn's career as a major theatrical force.
Greg: A young, slightly naive man whose innocent attempt to meet his girlfriend's parents leads to a series of increasingly absurd misunderstandings. Ginny: Greg’s girlfriend, who is desperately trying to end an affair with an older man and hide her past from her new partner. Philip: A middle-aged man and Ginny’s former lover, who is confused by Greg's sudden appearance and attempts to play along with the deception.
First Performance: 1965, at Library Theatre, Scarborough
A massive hit that transferred to London's West End and made Ayckbourn a household name.
Original Actors: Richard Briers, Michael Hordern, Celia Johnson, Jennifer Hilary