The Wilmslow Green Room is proud to open its new 2013-2014 season with 'If I were you' - Alan Ayckbourn's 70th play and a wonderfully comedic reflection on the usual gulf between men and women and their misunderstandings of each other.
Mal and Jill Rodale's marriage is on rocky ground. Mal is a boorish salesman who leaves the toilet seat up and neglects his wife; Jill is a frumpy and oppressed housewife who scratches the car. He's a bully who refuses to let their young son, Sam, act in a Shakespeare play but adores his married daughter whose union with a lout of a husband often results in bruising which nobody dares mention; nor is Mal's not-so-secret affair ever talked about.
All this changes after sweet-tempered Jill, settling for sleep at the end of a dreadful day, mutters: "God help us". The next morning she wakes up in Mal's body and he in hers. The fun begins.....
Dolefully loyal as Jill in her own body, she is now coarsely bewildered because Mal occupies it. And Mal transforms into a considerate father but living in Jill's female body. Inhabiting each other's bodies, they begin to better appreciate and understand each other's views.
Ayckbourn takes a comically dim view of husbands and wonders - if men were more like women, would the world be a happier place? Social comment emerging from laughter is definitely one of Ayckbourn's eternally special gifts offered up to his loyal audiences. Enjoy.
Artfully directed by Mike Rogerson, 'If I were you' runs at the Wilmslow Green Room from Saturday October 12th to Saturday October 19th with performances starting at 7.45pm.
The theatre Box Office is open on Saturday mornings 10:30 to midday and bookings can be made by telephone 01625 540933 or tickets can be purchased online via the WGR website.
Member post by Hilary Pinnock.
Photo: Mike Rogerson (director) on the right giving direction to the husband of the plot, Mal Rodale in the centre played by Mark Rowlands and his son-in-law, Dean, played by Patrick Lavin.
