It’s a change to see something which doesn’t feature ghouls and ghosts at this time of year and Richard Harris’s play directed by Martin T Brooks offers a comic look at a barbecue party.

By Angie Millard

It is set in the back gardens of two semi-detached houses; one is rather run down and the other aspiring to better things.

Michael, a doctor, played by James Wood and his long-suffering wife Roma played by Catherine Edge, are the hosts of the party and it is clear from the beginning that disaster looms. He has forgotten to take the meat out of the freezer and as he considers a microwave an unnecessary expense, no defrost is possible. Add to this the fact that his invited guests are cancelling with ridiculous excuses and things don’t look good.

In the other back garden are Mrs Hinton (Helen Wilson) and David (Adam Marsden), her son. They are exhibiting the usual mother and son differences, and she clearly hates his new wife (Heather Patterson) who arrives unexpectedly to fuel the disputes.

So far so good but this is a play that relies on one-liners for comedy, and the insecurity of lines prevented any real pace or building of momentum in the Hinton garden. The arrival of two guests: Sandy, a vacuous poser played by Xandra Logan, brought some much needed energy to the plot and Toby ( Darren Barrott), an eccentric anaesthetist gave us another comic dimension, but this is a difficult play with set pieces which need to be played fast, and doors which actors must exit or enter through on cue. I felt that it was generally under-rehearsed.

Catherine Edge’s nervy excitement and James Wood’s portrayal of a truly wet blanket are at times very funny, as is the relentless rudeness of Mrs Hinton. Logan and Barrott work well as a pair of bored and hungry guests, but we never quite get to the climax of the barbeque battlefield of conflicting wishes and intentions. Although the frustrated cry of the host that everyone should leave hits the spot.

The production team are to be congratulated as they produced some effective props and costumes and apparently all pitched in to produce the set. This is a tough play to do; it doesn’t have the cleverness and insight of an Alan Ayckbourn play and is driven by incidental action which relies on exact timing.

The cast and company have worked hard to pull this off.

Party Piece by Richard Harris is playing at Theatre 41 until 1 November 2025.