Communicating Doors

by Alan Ayckbourn

How Ms. Poopay Dayseer, a twenty-first century Specialist Sexual Consultant, while peddling her 'services' to an elderly hotel room client unexpectedly finds herself running for her life. How her flight through a communicating door brings her face to face with her own past and with Ruella who apparently died under suspicious circumstances twenty years earlier. And how Poopay's gradual friendship with that remarkable woman changes the future for both of them...

A time-travelling comedy thriller, Communicating Doors is published to coincide with the West End opening in 1995.

Genres: Plays, Drama, Theatre

112 pages, Paperback

First published August 17, 1995

About the author

Sir Alan Ayckbourn is a popular and prolific English playwright. He has written and produced seventy-three full-length plays in Scarborough and London and was, between 1972 and 2009, the artistic director of the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough, where all but four of his plays have received their first performance. More than 40 have subsequently been produced in the West End, at the Royal National Theatre or by the Royal Shakespeare Company since his first hit Relatively Speaking opened at the Duke of York's Theatre in 1967. Major successes include Absurd Person Singular (1975), The Norman Conquests trilogy (1973), Bedroom Farce (1975), Just Between Ourselves (1976), A Chorus of Disapproval (1984), Woman in Mind (1985), A Small Family Business (1987), Man Of The Moment (1988), House & Garden (1999) and Private Fears in Public Places (2004). His plays have won numerous awards, including seven London Evening Standard Awards. They have been translated into over 35 languages and are performed on stage and television throughout the world. Ten of his plays have been staged on Broadway, attracting two Tony nominations, and one Tony award.

Reviews

[Eric M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. Could be a tad shorter.

[Duncan Maccoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is #46 of Ayckbourn's plays. It has elements seen in Henceforward, the chaos outside in London and possibly also the science fiction, although not so much. The second element is more time-related rather than all out science fiction.

I saw the play in the round in Scarborough and in end-stage on the subsequent tour. With much the same cast, the differences could be put down to the alternate theatre layouts. I won't surprise you in saying that I prefer the production in the round and, as with most Ayckbourn plays, that is how I recommend you watch it.

[Donnell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting concept and quite a twist at the end.

[Patrick Neylan · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's almost like Ayckbourn wrote one one of his intricately plotted and tightly written plays, and then a producer said, "Alan, I need another three-quarters of an hour." This could be a terrific play - the time travel through the communicating doors provides plenty of humour and clever plotting - but it drags terribly.

Just as an example, there's a scene where someone is hanging off a balcony. It lasts three pages (five minutes minimum on stage), with banter and irrelevant small talk while a major character is on the brink of death.

Pace, pace, pace. But Ayckbourn seems desperate to drag the action out, like one of those successful authors who become so successful that nobody can tell them that they're over-indulging. Yes, I'm looking at you, JK Rowling.

[Rowena · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hilarious, clever, touching and worth reading. Good social commentary on misogyny and how it can be avoided by fate altered by who is and who isn't present. A mystery structure and lots and lots of cheekiness. I adore it.

[Sherryl Wynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is actually a play - and a fascinating one. I really enjoyed it. It's that time travel thing. Messes with your head, but somehow it works.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow, what fun! Now this would make a great evening of theatre! And what a clever plot too--just what you would expect from Ayckbourn.

[Ed · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, quick read. A door between suites in an upscale hotel sends guests back in time who then influence their lives from the past.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very fun read. A British farce with the eccentricity and wit one would expect and a kind-hearted end.

[Marc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed concept very much. Would be fun to see on stage because of all the set trickery and time travel.

[Gillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw this performed and thought it brilliant. Reading the script and the stage directions added another dimension completely. Absolutely astonishing, thoroughly recommended.

[Isabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great time-traveling farce.

[Lyric · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is quite a funny little play. It's a bit of a sci-fi fantasy farce, where characters are travelling through time from one hilarious situation to the next. I'd love to see an actual production of it one day.