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In fact, the weekend, in the less than raffishly exciting hideaway of a
Sussex country town (East Grinstead), has been arranged with Norman, an
assistant librarian ‘with a rather aimless sort of beard', who is prepared
to court any body. Sarah - bossy, impatient, interfering but ultimately very
vulnerable - soon talks Annie out of that but isn't persuasive enough to
talk Tom into it. Norman, who has turned up expecting to take Annie away
under the pretence of going to a librarians' conference, is therefore at a
loose end about the house and free to wreak havoc, which he does.
Interestingly, though, his ‘crimes' are all things the others to some extent
encourage or need. Reg enjoys Norman's jokes. Tom thinks he is wise in the
ways of the world and gives good advice. Annie wants to be swept off her
feet by someone and Sarah is badly in need of attention and understanding of
some kind.
Finally Ruth, Norman's wife (and sister to Annie and Reg) joins the party
unexpectedly. She is a high-powered but seriously short-sighted executive
who duly catches him with two women apparently fighting over him but is
promptly talked into joining him on a much-abused fake fur rug for the
night.
Norman also attacks the invalid, which everybody else would like to do.
Table Manners ends at 8.00 on Monday morning with Annie back in a clinch
with Norman; Living Together ends at the same time with Sarah telling Reg
she fancies a weekend away, without him. But the final scene of the trilogy,
the close of Round and Round the Garden an hour later, sees Norman alone in
the garden, hurt and indignant that none of the women will take him up on
his offer to make her happy. Each has recognized his opportunism for what it
is.
Copyright: Paul Allen 2004
Abbreviated synopsis for the Stephen Joseph
Theatre In The Round's 1993 revival of The Norman Conquests
TABLE MANNERS: The events of one
weekend as seen from the dining room. In which Reg finds food rather scarce
despite having it thrown at him by Sarah... Sarah is scandalised by Annie...
Annie is disappointed by men in general and Tom in particular... Tom knocks
down Norman... Norman's romantic proposals are ruined thanks to Ruth... Ruth
loses her patience, her temper and her glasses... and in which everyone has
trouble deciding where to sit...
LIVING TOGETHER: The events of one
weekend as seen from the Sitting Room. In which Reg is driven mad by Tom...
Tom tells Annie a thing or two... Annie nearly comes to blows with Sarah...
Sarah sees a different side of Norman... Norman sorts things out with
Ruth... Ruth discovers the charms of a fireside rug... and in which nobody
enjoys playing board games...
ROUND AND ROUND THE GARDEN: The events
of one weekend as seen from the Garden. In which Ruth thoroughly confuses
Tom... Tom succeeds in asking Annie... Annie gets a glimpse of Norman's
pyjamas... Norman tells Sarah stories by moonlight... Sarah disapproves of
Reg's outdoor sports... and in which everyone gets to roll in the grass...
Copyright: Scarborough Theatre Trust |