ITS various incarnations include 1961 TV play Honeymoon Postponed and 1966 film The Family Way, starring Hywel Bennett and Hayley Mills; now, the Octagon’s 2015 production of the same name demonstrates the enduring popularity of Naughton’s All in Good Time.
The Octagon pulls it off with aplomb
Well known for its straight-talking, unsentimental view of working class values, loyalties and conflicts, the droll drama surrounds newlyweds Arthur and Jenny Fitton; whose conjugal beginnings, all tripping over one another in the claustrophobic Fitton family home (perfectly created by designer Amanda Stoodley), unsurprisingly leads to frustrations all round.
Although such iconic works are difficult to handle, requiring classical accuracy with a contemporary slant, the Octagon pulls it off with aplomb. Whilst the dancing is perhaps a little too confident and kooky; owing more to films of the time than to the way in which working class people really danced; set, props, costumes and music are all spot on, right down to the popular bouffant hairdos.
The cast, a mixture of new talent and familiar faces, similarly does it justice. Newlyweds Jessica Baglow and Harry Long (who had to spend an inordinate amount of time in bed together during rehearsals) work together with superb timing and chemistry whilst the older cast members’ parents round the table discussion is perfectly executed. Colin Connor and Kathy Jamieson work well together as Violet’s subtly-superior parents, Leslie and Liz Piper, while Barbara Drennan’s role as the perceptive Lucy Fitton is portrayed with depth and warmth.
Barbara Drennan as Lucy FittonDavid Birrell superbly handles the complex role of Ezra Fitton, whose loyalty to his wife contrasts with his tendency to inadvertently push away those who love him. With his son posing a threat to his reputation (and who on earth reads a book at their wedding do, he asks of Arthur, challenging him to the manlier habits of arm wrestling and drinking), there’s pride and bluster, an uncertain masculinity that prompts audience empathy.
Anyone who has seen the film won’t have forgotten the story, so I took my niece along to see how it played to a new audience. Just fine. The play is a well-constructed (if slightly stretched in parts), a warm celebration of family values; and, though slightly dated, well-deserving of its current audience, particularly in the playwright’s home.
Next year the Octagon is presenting the work of another local playwright, Jim Cartwright, with a short run of his popular play Two and newly-written sequel Two 2.
The Family Way runs at the Octagon Theatre until Saturday 3 October.
