“Alarms and Excursions”, a comedy by Michael Frayn, was performed by TADS from Wednesday 22nd – Saturday 25th April 2015.
Synopsis
This series of seven plays depicts the difficulties modern technology has added to our everyday lives. “Doubles” sees two couples having similar problems in adjacent hotel rooms. “Glassnost” presents us with a political speech sabotaged by a harassed autocue operator. In “Look Away Now”, passengers ignore their airlines’ safety lecture. “Alarms” sees two couples embark on a dinner party which is doomed to failure as, one by one, labour-saving devices and even furniture become hostile, this party is then revisited in “Leavings”. “Heart to Heart” deals with the impossibility of communication at a noisy drinks party. The last play, “Immobiles” is acted out entirely over the phone, as the German guest arriving at the airport, and the hosts meeting her, try desperately to locate each other.
Cast
Doubles
| Miles | James MacWilliam |
| Melanie | Hazel Wright |
| Laurence | Mark Prout |
| Lynn | Clare McCaffrey |
Glassnost
| Baroness Armament | Prudence Goss |
Look Away Now
| Aptly | Patricia Garton |
| Bloss | Frank Jenkins |
| Charr | Liz Treacy |
| Voice of the Stewardess | Lisa Punter |
Alarms & Leavings
| Nicholas | Mark Prout |
| John | Frank Jenkins |
| Jocasta | Hazel Wright |
| Nancy | Clare McCaffrey |
| Voice of Peter Pinch | David Midlane |
Heart To Heart
| Clifford | James MacWilliam |
| Charmian | Ivy Andrews |
| Peter | Frank Jenkins |
Immobiles
| Clifford | James MacWilliam |
| Charmian | Ivy Andrews |
| Peter | Frank Jenkins |
Directed by Sarah Jones
TADS Elsewhere