‘Aycking’ with laughter!

Sixteen members of Capel Ladies’ Club thoroughly enjoyed the first night of Alan Ayckbourn’s ‘Improbable Fiction’ production at East Bergholt.  The play, a comedy verging on a farce, was staged by the East Bergholt Dramatic Society in The Constable Hall.

The title is taken from a line in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night: “If this was played upon a stage, I would condemn it as an improbable fiction.”

Improbable though the play is titled, the production and acting were more than probable and, judging by the gales of laughter, were a great success.

The play is the story of a writers’ circle meeting to discuss work and progress. Most of them find it hard to write and one cannot stop.

The chairman for the circle, Arnold, suggests that they all collaborate on a single piece of work, an idea not well received. Then there is a thunder storm and a power cut. When light is restored the would-be authors are in Victorian dress and act out a scene from one of the author’s novels. Then more storm, more thunder, more lights out and on again to scenes from the other authors’ works.

The play ends with a comment from Arnold that nothing unusual had happened.  The play was very improbable, but the more it progressed, the more probable it appeared. It was hilarious and fun.  We all aycked with laughter!

Penny Wilson-Downe.

‘Improbable Fiction’ was East Bergholt Dramatic Society’s April production. The next production will be on the 28th to 30th November. The play has yet to be decided but it will certainly be worth watching.