Relatively Speaking

Another wonderful play, televised in 1989 and now lost, with no VHS tape or DVD available. Mistaken identity lies at the core of the farce, as the boyfriend travels out of London to meet his girlfriend's parents for the first time. Only they aren't her parents, for he picked up the wrong address and landed at the home of his girlfriend's old flame. The trio - young man, old flame, and the old flame's dotty wife - talk at cross-purposes, extending the mistaken identities to the point of hilarity. This is Ayckbourn at his best, helped greatly by a top-drawer cast, headed by Nigel Hawthorne. It was broadcast on PBS as a Great Performances special and then, tragically, disappeared forever, along with a number of other fine British plays. Someone at PBS should smarten up; instead of mindless "pledge breaks," the network could coin money by selling DVDs of these treasures.

Made in 1990, when Imogen Stubbs was the hottest female on the British stage, Michael Maloney had distinguished himself in "Henry V" and "Truly, Madly, Deeply" and Nigel Hawthorne had established himself in TV history following "Yes Minister". This is a classic British farce; it's the 60's and Michael Maloney is a nice, but somewhat foolish guy dating Imogen Stubbs, all looking cute and mod in her tangerine minidress and bobbed hairstyle. But she's also been having an affair with elder married man, Nigel Hawthorne. Maloney mistakenly thinks he's her father, and arranges a "surprise visit" to his house. Stubbs and Hawthorne play up to his delusion, whilst Hawthorne convinces his wife that Stubbs is his secretary. There's plenty of witty dialogue, jokes deriving from the mistaken identity set up and good performances. However, there is practically no reason for this being set in the 60's other than the reason I set out at the beginning.

While essentially a stagebound teleplay confined to two dry settings, the charm and verbal confusion of Ayckbourn's first London hit really comes through. Wonderful perfs all around led by Nigel Hawthorne as the naughty boss/daddy Philip. Watching the characters try to untangle the relationships in the second half is delightful. A true example of a "well-made play". Veddy British and veddy funny.