How the other half loves: A comedy

by Alan Ayckbourn

There are three couples in this play, the men all working for the same firm. One of the younger men is having an affair with the wife of the oldest, and when each returns home suspiciously late one night or early one morning they invent a story about having to spend some time smoothing domestic matters in the home of the third couple. Both living rooms are shown in the single set, and both share a common dining room which takes on a character of its own as it serves two dinners simultaneously on two different nights. Of course, the third couple have to show up to put the fat in the fire, but that complication only adds to the fun of this famous farce.

Genres: Plays, Drama, Theatre, Fiction, Comedy

120 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1982

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

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

My 5th or 6th Ayckbourn and I realize, oh he likes putting unfaithful spouses in this.

HtOHL has a unique scene design and action in the ending of the first act where two different dinners on different dates are happening concurrently. The lies and misunderstandings gives it a classic farcial tone.

The big issue is the spousal dynamics (it premiered in 1969) where angry husbands threaten to hit their wives and that behavior was more acceptable back in the day which taints the humor.

[Milica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might have been an outright comedy/farce at the time it was written. The farcical aspect aged well mostly due to the ingenious stage design and stage directions. Unfortunately, the gender dynamics within the play show that there was actual progress made even though the current state of gender affairs feels pretty dismal to some of us. The most tragic sentence is Mary’s husband proclaiming that he had invested many years into her. It has a profoundly chilling effect on me in the 21st century while it might have merely produced a chuckle in the 1970s. Even the physical absence of the baby which features prominently as a driver of a part of the characters’ choices - while it is a splendid solution to the impossibility of an actual infant in a play - demonstrates the changing attitudes. That baby was a mewling inconvenience; nowadays, a play about a similar class of people would surely include Suzuki lessons and crash courses in baby sign language.

In a way, the constant awareness of the “different” detracted from my enjoyment of the ridiculous. On the other hand, I would recommend that the young, perpetually outraged set read this play - particularly the ones so bent on diminishing the feminist movement (from both sides).

[Gabriella · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded down.
The play is meant to be a comedy, but I don't feel that comes across well on the page.

I don't really find the situation of lies about infidelity that humorous, especially when there is no regard for the consequences and the full truth is never actually revealed.

The set design was absolutely fascinating, having both households integrated into one set, so characters can effectively move between locations without physically leaving the stage. I could see how this would significantly aid this plays pursuit of comedy, and imagine with the right direction I might actually find this very enjoyable and amusing and probably worthy of rounding up my rating to 4 stars at least.

Unfortunately, as a reading experience it just didn't come across well.

[Rachel Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite good!

A play about lies, deception, misunderstandings, and infidelity all mashed up into a typical Ayckbourn farce. It is very technical when reading it but i think this is definitely a play that you shouldn’t read, this is a play to watch in order to fully appreciate Alan Ayckbourn’s genius.

[Duncan Maccoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three couples, dinner, relationships and all that makes this calssic early Ayckbourn. We saw this at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough directed by Ayckbourn himself: fabulous.

[Mariam Nasser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did it for school. It was so funny and bizarre.
The attention is distributed equally over the three couples, but Teresa and Bob!! How cool!

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully funny show. I was Mary (of the visiting couple). 1991

[Reema · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was delightful reading this action packed play. Enjoyed every bit of it.