How many of those charming and delightful dinner parties do you have to sit through before you realise that it is not uncommon for the hosts to have set up the evening to insult and humiliate at least one of the guests if not the whole table!
Moira Buffini latched on to this for her hit National Theatre success of 2002 Dinner, an exercise in master/slave subservience among close friends and put-downs oiled with jokes and laughter. The play transferred to Wyndham's Theatre following its sell-out National success.
Buffini trained as an actress before becoming a writer and teacher. She taught drama at Holloway prison and soon began to win awards for her writing. Her characters tend towards the colourful and extreme; sometimes shocking but always funny.
This is another extraordinary and unusual play in what is becoming a remarkable vintage season at the GWT.
BILL BRAY
Don't spare the garlic
Our friends can take it
The dinner party has long been a dramatic setting of choice. From Titus Adronicus through to 1933's Dinner at Eight and, of course Abigail's Party, this formal arena has provided a battleground for men and women, pretension and reality, passion and restraint.
Moira Buffini's Dinner therefore stakes a bold claim in very crowded territory - but what a claim! Nominated for an Olivier Award for Best New Comedy in 2003, this is black comedy at its best...and blackest.
Paige welcomes you to her dinner table where she is entertaining an artist, a scientist and a journalist, who have gathered to celebrate the success of her husband Lars' new book on philosophy. Even as the guests arrive incidents are piling up, setting the tone for the rest of the play.
To say any more would be to spoil a surprising and entertaining evening. I can tell you that the story is divided into the courses of a meal rather than the acts of a play and that there will be some culinary treats and a few shocks along the way (as well as many laughs!).
This unusual play does contain some very strong language in places, which is not gratuitous but could offend if you do not know it is coming. I should say that this comedy is not suitable for children.
The National Theatre benefited from Harriet Walter and Nicholas Farrell in their production. Not to be out-done we have assembled a cracking cast in the shape of Susie Hall, David Webster, Cath Bateman, John Wilson, Michael Martin, Damon Unwin and Michelle Scott. They expertly portray this very middle class bunch and convey a true sense of style over substance making this crowd a very unsympathetic lot, indeed.
So, join us at our table as we explore themes of excess and consumption, deliver biting sarcasm and wit and of course make you laugh.
Welcome to Dinner.
BEN GASTON, director
Damon Unwin, Cath Bateman, John Wilson, Susie Hall & Michael Martin
