Damsels in Distress: An Ayckbourn Trilogy: Game Plan, Flat Spin, Role Play

Damsels in Distress #1-3

by Alan Ayckbourn

Continuing his close scrutiny of the fine line separating the theatrical from the real, Alan Ayckbourn serves up three new plays, collectively known as Damsels in Distress . Written to be performed by the same cast with the same luxurious riverside apartment as a set, each play deftly explores the enigmatic duality of role-playing--including a daughter trying out the call-girl lifestyle to help with the family budget, and a night of romance between neighbors who aren't who they say they are--while continuing to offer Ayckbourn's signature dose of penetrating humor.

Genres: Plays

304 pages, Paperback

First published December 3, 2003

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

[DarrenBrennan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars for Gameplan. It was a funny play but there wasn't much psychological depth to the characters. However, I enjoyed it for what it was.