Customer Reviews

Comic Potential: A Play

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4 star:		(1)
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Real life situations, classic characters, and a futuristic twist make readers as well as audiences wonder what the future will bring. This has got to be my favorite Ayckbourn play yet. It is also a great acting tool because you see the play through the eyes of the playwright. However, it may not be appropriate for young readers do to adult language and situations.

"Comic Potential," by Alan Ayckbourn, represents a species of literature that I don't believe I have ever before encountered: a science fiction comedy for the stage. The opening pages note that the play was first performed at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough in 1998, and was then presented in London in 1999. A brief author bio notes that the London-born Ayckbourn has had a distinguished career in the British theater.

The book version's back cover notes that this play takes place "in the forseeable future." In this future world human actors have apparently been replaced by acting robots known as "actoids," which are programmed by technical specialists. Early in the play a young writer named Alan meets an actoid in whom he sees a potential for comedy. Alan's plans, and his relationship with his robotic protegee, drive the plot forward and complicate the lives of many characters.

This is a funny and thought-provoking play that combines comedy and mild suspense. Ayckbourn offers a fascinating glimpse at a culture which, because of the presence of human-like robots, has evolved its own set of new social protocols and prejudices. Clever dialogue and well-written characters further add to the impact of this entertaining, and surprisingly moving, text.

I admire Ayckbourns' work and this reminded me of one of his best plays; "Communicating Doors". It's funny, sad and hopeful and I'd love to see it performed. The man is a true genius and thankfully he's prolific as well!

I SAW THIS PLAY IN London AND I AM SO HAPPY TO GET THE CHANCE TO READ IT. This will be a true joy