Absent Friends

by Alan Ayckbourn

School life, family argumentColin's fiancee died two months ago. How comforting for Paul and Diana, Colin's closest friends, to invite him for a small Saturday tea party to ease his grief. When, however, everyone else is left shattered and grieving, it is clear that Diana's plans have not gone quiet according to plan!, passion, love and broken love -- these subjects lie at the heart of this selection of short stories.

Genres: Plays, Drama, Fiction

Paperback

First published December 1, 1975

About the author

Sir Alan Ayckbourn is a popular and prolific English playwright. He has written and produced seventy-three full-length plays in Scarborough and London and was, between 1972 and 2009, the artistic director of the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough, where all but four of his plays have received their first performance. More than 40 have subsequently been produced in the West End, at the Royal National Theatre or by the Royal Shakespeare Company since his first hit Relatively Speaking opened at the Duke of York's Theatre in 1967. Major successes include Absurd Person Singular (1975), The Norman Conquests trilogy (1973), Bedroom Farce (1975), Just Between Ourselves (1976), A Chorus of Disapproval (1984), Woman in Mind (1985), A Small Family Business (1987), Man Of The Moment (1988), House & Garden (1999) and Private Fears in Public Places (2004). His plays have won numerous awards, including seven London Evening Standard Awards. They have been translated into over 35 languages and are performed on stage and television throughout the world. Ten of his plays have been staged on Broadway, attracting two Tony nominations, and one Tony award.

Reviews

[Sylvie Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first Ayckbourn play I've read so far. A group of friends meet at one of their homes to prepare for a special tea - it's the first time they've seen their friend Colin since the death of his fiancée. A clever device was to have the characters gather before Colin's arrival - we can see the tensions between them before they're forced to behave appropriately. Naturally, this doesn't last. I really enjoyed the character of Evelyn, who respects no one present and revels in her own rudeness: it's always interesting to have an uncooperative character onstage.

[Jojo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summary: Another play featuring several couples. There's Paul and Diana who are hosting this event; Evelyn and John, Marge and Gordon (who does not appear in the play) and then Colin. Colin has been invited to come over because he recently lost his fiance: she drowned. Evelyn has brought her baby along and seems completely disinterested in just about everything. Diana suspects Evelyn has been having an affair with her husband (and it turns out she's not exactly wrong: Evelyn admits she slept with him but it was a one time thing). Colin comes by and seems to actually be the cheeriest of everyone despite his loss. Paul doesn't really want to be involved but he does so reluctantly. Colin shares memories and photos of his fiance though some seem to find this to be quite awkward. Diana at one point has a breakdown because she wanted to be in the Canadian Mounties? It was bizarre. Marge keeps having to take calls from her husband who apparently can't take care of his sick self by himself. Yeah that's about it.
Review: I do think this one was a bit more enjoyable than the previous play but not much really happens. Evelyn just seems awful. Gordon pissed me off despite not being physically in the play: it's like the trope how when men get sick they turn into giant babies. Anyway, yeah I think it was fine.
Grade: C

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5

I started and finished this book at work and wasn’t expecting to like it once I got a little ways into it, but I like this play for reasons other than plot. I think this play is a great study into motivation and objectives of characters, and what drives people to behave the way they do. This play also delicately balances the high intensity scenes in a way that I could feel how chaotic Ayckbourn meant for them to be. Characters talking over each other wasn’t confusing to read. This play is also VERY British, which I appreciate because sometimes I’ll read a play where I can tell it’s supposed to be set in the UK but the dialogue doesn’t seem to lend itself to the accent, but this is a very posh play in terms of the vocabulary of the characters. Overall, pleasantly surprised! Not my favorite play I’ve read recently by any means, but in a play analysis freshman course I think this would be really great.

[Peter Burton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another funny play,not his best but worth a read as tensions between marriage partners surfaces when they gather to cheer up a long lost friend recently bereaved of his partner.Again a bit dated but still funny.

[Brian McCann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable play about a friend reunion. Nothing much really happens, but the relationships are interesting enough. Perhaps not as madcap as his other plays, it is the first Ayckbourn play to be set in 'real time'.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's something here but seems a bit half-baked as Ayckbourn doesn't quite close it.

[Anton Segers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Als Marsmannetjes op de aarde zouden aankomen en een tekst van Ayckbourn was hun eerste kennismaking met de menselijke beschaving zouden ze meteen rechtsomkeer maken en tegen hoge snelheid weer Marswaarts vliegen, ver weg van deze planeet van eenzaamheid en miserie.
Toch werkt dit bleke mensbeeld humoristisch, door het ironisch werkend dramatisch contrast tussen de levenslust van de weduwnaar en de depressies van de getrouwden. Ayckbourn is de Britse Tsjechov.

[Bettie · Rating 2 out of 5]

A tea and sympathy party for Colin throws up some surprises. Stars David Jason and Miriam Margolyes.

Not one of the better Ayckbourn's; something of a nothing really.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

A tea and sympathy party for Colin throws up some surprises.

[Pithee · Rating 3 out of 5]

BBC recording

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Compassion gone awry. Self-indulgent misery. Tensions and emotions hidden beneath the surface that leak out. Typical Ayckbourn fare.