“Confusions” by Alan Ayckbourn
Ravenshead Theatre Group
Ravenshead Village Hall

Originally a five piece play, Ravenshead Theatre group have reduced this to four to make the four pieces more relevant.

"Mother Figure", "Drinking Companion", "Between Mouthfuls" and "Gosforth's Fete". These four make a smooth transition from one play to the next but the fifth in the sequence, which is the one that has been omitted was “A Talk In The Park”, which covers the aftermath of the previous four plays.

I’m not going to give any spoilers about any of these plays because they are cleverly segued by Ayckbourn and you need to follow the stories from play one through to play four to get the full effect and thread to be able to iron out any confusions that may be given if the plays are taken out of context.

What I will say though is that is classic Ayckbourn, which means that there are many laughs - not titters, not giggles but proper laughs and that is down, not just to the script but to the actors who brought the words and physicality of the play alive.

Catherine Buckley was wonderful as the "mother" in the first play and the lovely gentle Welsh Milly in the final play who has a secret that is revealed in the most public of revelations.

Rob Hurst appears in three of the four plays and I couldn't possibly choose a favourite of his characters, just like the other actors

Sarah Tryner was an absolute star in all three of her pieces and her facial expressions were an absolute joy, as were her character portrayals. It is her role as the waitress in "Between Mouthfuls" which for me showed off her comedy skills to the max.

Terry Cox plays a wonderful drunk in "Drinking Companions" and a wonderful comedy vicar in "Gosforth's Fete".

Mandy Buckley features in two of the four and for me her piece de resistance is as Polly in "Between Mouthfuls" , a role that's different to Bernice in "Drinking Companions", which I also loved.

Julie Cox, again in two of the four plays injects plenty of glamour into both roles but the comedy elements really shows in her second role as Mrs Pearce in "Gosforth's Fete".

Last but not least is Adam Hague who featured most in the final of the four plays.

Much as I would love to tell you more about the roles and the plays, you really do have to see these plays and the wonderfully comical characters without knowing too much about them before hand.

Directed by Dennis Baggarley and "Fete" by Andy Cook, they. along with the actors made sure that the comedy was clear and uncomplicated and an easy but enjoyable watch.

Another fine production by all involved.

“Confusions” is being performed at Ravenshead Village Hall until Saturday 26 May 2018.