Round and Round the Garden

Characters: 3 male, 3 female

Exterior SetWinner as a part of Norman Conquests - Outer Critics Circle Outstanding Revival of a Play, 2009

Round and Round the Garden is part of 'The Norman Conquests Trilogy'. In this play, Sarah's desperate attempts to have a nice, civilized week end culminate, not surprisingly, in disaster. Ruth, Norman's wife, is summoned but Norman still contrives to cause havoc involving, finally, all three women. Matters are not helped by such events as the slow thinking Tom mistaking Ruth's intentions during a conversation they have together. Eventually the horrific week end draws to a close. The four visitors depart, but even at the last moment Norman manages, deliberately or not, to wreck all plans by driving his car into Reg's. Back they all troop, now facing having to stay. Norman finds himself spurned by all three women and is left protesting with injured innocence that he only meant to make everyone happy.

"Superb comic trilogy. Mr. Ayckbourn is the most remarkable British dramatist to have emerged since Harold Pinter." London Sunday Times.