Happy night out with the Falcon Players

Loughborough Falcon players packed Stanford Hall theatre last week with, Alan Ayckbourn's highly amusing farce, how the other half loves.

The play deals with the matrimonial struggles of three very different couples, socially and philosophically worlds apart, drawn together by and affair between the boss's wife and one of his underlings.

Although the theme is an old one, Aychbourn does not lose his audience by dwelling on the moral seriousness of such a misdemenour.

Keith Hague played the blundering boss, Frank Foster, with tremendous enthusiasm, suspecting everyone of having affairs except his wife, Fiona, who glided around the stage trying to hide the guilt of her indescretion with employee Bob Phillips.

As Fiona, Sue Webster exuded much charisma, artfully wrapping her cuckolded husband around her diamond-studded little finger.

For most of the play, which was set in the Fosters. and Phillips' living rooms, two scenes run concurrently.

Both couples shared the same stage living room, one couple remaining on stage while the action was focused on the other.

This left a great deal to the audience's imagination, and at times became awkward, with dramatic licence being stretched to its limit.

Nevertheless, the play was performed very professionally.

The Falcon Players appeared to enjoy themselves as much as the audience.

N.N.