ALONE TOGETHER at the Theatre Royal Windsor
★★★★
“cleverly multi-layered”
Simon Williams’ satisfying new play Alone Together has already extended its run at the Theatre Royal Windsor. It is a nice companion piece to Frank and Percy: another recent Windsor premiere directed by Sean Mathias that also features a series of unlikely park bench meetings. The theme of Alone Together might, at first glance, seem less than inspiring. It’s about a couple’s failure to talk – and to love – in their tragically broken marriage. But there’s a lot more to this cleverly multi-layered piece than that, including plenty of laughs and more plot twists than a Cadbury’s Curly Wurly before all the strands are tied together in a sweet ‘all’s well that ends well’ ending.
The writing is informed by William’s passion for the likes of Rattigan, Maugham and Coward. Characters swap cleverly literary quotations and talk about their embonpoint and being bouleversé (or overwhelmed) by events. As the storyline becomes increasingly convoluted, the audience are kept involved by much use of dramatic irony (where we know what the character doesn’t). This well-crafted and somehow period writing is paired with a stylishly brittle-looking split level-set designed by Production Designer Morgan Large. Colourful columns of LEDs switch the action from one part of the stage to another and back panels change the mood in lighting design by Nick Richings. The sound design is also edgy with some menacing effects that didn’t seem to quite match the intimate and personal drama on stage.
As the laconic and philandering businessman Colin, Martin Shaw (television’s Judge John Deed and Inspector George Gently) gives an assured performance that easily belies his 78 years. At the centre of the drama, Jenny Seagrove gently underplays her role as the half-mad wife Angela, victim of a cheating husband and another awful and all too commonplace tragedy that I won’t reveal here. Josh Goulding is the sparky and engaging third member of the cast. He’s well chosen for his role as an aspiring playwright called Jonty who discovers he’s not the only puppet master pulling the strings.
After the interval, agile performances are again capably delivered as the pace ratchets up in the second half of this entertaining evening.
ALONE TOGETHER at the Theatre Royal Windsor
Reviewed on 16th August 2023
by David Woodward
Photography by Tom Daniels
Previously reviewed at this venue:
Blood Brothers | ★★★★★ | January 2022
The Cherry Orchard | ★★★★ | October 2021
Alone Together
Alone Together
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