Cygnet Announces Ayckbourn Playwright Companion Series Readings

While Cygnet's mainstage buzzes with the highly praised productions of not one, but three Alan Ayckbourn comedies in its current run of  THE NORMAN CONQUESTS, the continuation of the Playwright Companion Series will offer with not one, but two opportunities to dig deeper into the esteemed playwrights work with upcoming "partner pieces." Ayckbourn's overnight smash, RELATIVELY SPEAKING will be presented on Monday, September 13th at 7:00pm and TIME OF MY LIFE will be presented on Monday, September 27th at 7:00pm.  Both readings will be performed at Cygnet Theatre in Old Town. 

The Playwright Companion Series was established with the intention of deepening the audience's experience and understanding of the mainstage playwright. With this in mind, Cygnet has chosen to present RELATIVELY SPEAKING, a 1967 premiere, which changed Ayckbourn from a little-known writer to an overnight sensation.  This play  has been credited, by the playwright himself, as the foundation of Ayckbourn's uncanny ability to create puzzles for the stage. Claiming he was attempting to write an "actor proof" play - one built on a plot so strong, he could study the rules to learn how to break them -  Ayckbourn stated "I found that because of having done that exercise in construction, which I'm rather glad I did, I've subsequently been able to explore variations on it - finding new ways to tell stories and new ways to use drama."  In RELATIVELY SPEAKING, Ayckbourn explored the most basic construct of a farce, utilizing the conventions of mistaken identities, misunderstandings and precisely timed exits and entrances to humorously portray marital infidelity.

In contrast, TIME OF MY LIFE - which premiered in 1992 - demonstrates Ayckbourn's interest in  breaking plot "rules" by experimenting with time.  In this somewhat tragic play, the past, present and future are revealed simultaneously and intertwined throughout the course of the piece.  Each scene takes place within the same restaurant and surrounds a family of three couples.  Each of these relationships become unveiled in time-travel style.  Describing his play, Ayckbourn said "It's a time play. For one couple time stands still, they examine their lives over the two hours the play takes. Another couple you see their lives over a period of two months, and for the third couple over a period of two years. So the time moves at different speeds and different directions."

Cygnet's staged-readings of RELATIVELY SPEAKING and TIME OF MY LIFE will feature Ron Choularton (The Norman Conquests, My Fair Lady, St. Nicholas) and Annie Hinton (Private Lives, A Christmas Carol, Book of Liz).  The cast of TIME OF MY LIFE will also include Jason Heil (Noises Off!) and Jessica John (Private Lives, Noises Off!, Mauritius). Francis Gercke, who co-directed THE NORMAN CONQUESTS, will direct. 

Admission to each of the Playwright Companion Series Readings is $10.   RELATIVELY SPEAKING will be performed Monday, September 13th at 7:00 pm and TIME OF MY LIFE will be performed Monday, September 27th at 7:00pm.  Each reading will be presented one-night only on Cygnet's Old Town Stage located at 4040 Twiggs St. in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park.

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