Alphabetical Order

by Michael Frayn

Set in the library of a provincial newspaper where battle is joined between the forces of order and chaos, between arid organization in the person of the new library assistant, Leslie, and humane confusion in the person of Lucy, the much-loved resident librarian. Drawing on his experience as a journalist, Frayn draws his gallery of characters with the hilarious accuracy which can only come from first-hand experience. Winner of the Evening Standard's Best Comedy Award after a long run at the Hampstead Theatre and on London's West End in 1975. This edition features the author's revised version of the script presented at the Hampstead Theatre in 2009.

Genres: Plays

Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Michael Frayn is an English playwright and novelist. He is best known as the author of the farce Noises Off and the dramas Copenhagen and Democracy. His novels, such as Towards the End of the Morning, Headlong and Spies, have also been critical and commercial successes, making him one of the handful of writers in the English language to succeed in both drama and prose fiction. His works often raise philosophical questions in a humorous context. Frayn's wife is Claire Tomalin, the biographer and literary journalist.

Reviews

[Bill on GR Sabbatical · Rating 3 out of 5]

Before he was a successful playwright and novelist, Frayn was a journalist for The Guardian and The Observer, and he drew on the experience in writing this early comedy in 1975.

In Act One, Lucy, the librarian of a provincial newspaper, hires a young assistant, Lesley, to introduce some order into the chaos of her clippings, which are everywhere, sometimes even in file folders, which are sometimes even in file cabinets, maintained for use by reporters researching stories in this time before the internet. Act Two is set six months later and some order has been imposed, but it's not clear if the benefits outweigh the costs of the change. Frayn lets his characters explore the philosophical issue of order vs chaos with humor until...the plot thickens.

I'm a retired librarian and I've known a lot of reporters, so I had a perspective that drew me to the story, and I enjoyed it. I'm not sure everyone would, though, at least in part because of how antiquated and irrelevant a newspaper clipping library already seems, when that's not intended to be part of the story.

[Stuart Aken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plays are, of course, intended to be seen, experienced, rather than read. However, as a writer who has had a radio play broadcast by the redoubtable BBC, I have an interest in play scripts, and enjoy reading them as well.

Michael Frayn has a reputation as a playwright who understands comedy. And Alphabetical Order is a great example of his strength in creating humour. The stage setting remains unchanged throughout the 2 acts, except for some 'tidying' essential to the story. So, the whole action takes place within the library of a local newspaper and involves the librarians and some of the reporting and editorial staff.

Having worked on a local paper, as a photographer, I have some empathy with the characters portrayed and some understanding of their peculiar pressures and priorities. The characters are well drawn, using the playwright's only real tool; that of dialogue. It's possible to picture them on the stage from the script, because they are so well described by their chosen words and what they have to say or what is said about them by other characters; the essence of a stage play.

The action is minimal, as is the plot, but the play covers a great deal of ground in terms of character building and relationship development. There are plenty of jokes and many occasions given to laughter, both with and at the characters. But there is pathos too. The aura of gentle decay and the overriding sense of futility combine with the overall frivolity of the dialogue, which hides those secrets that lurk beneath the surface of the spoken text. So, there are some surprises but the drama plays out more or less as expected.

The denouement is slightly surprising in the way it happens, but the reader realises that the outcome was, in fact, inevitable, given the natures of the characters and their employment. Typical of the very English setting and characterisation, there is a lot more beneath the surface, unstated but alluded to, making the play a multi-layered experience.

I enjoyed this, and recommend it to those who enjoy their drama in thoughtful but gentle comedy form.

[Nick Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

An early Michael Frayn comedy. It feels a bit like a sitcom. It has its situation – the library of a newspaper (which might, in itself, be quaintly amusing for younger readers) – and a series of characters who have fairly fixed personalities and constantly react to each other in much the same way. But that’s a bit unfair. There is a development between the two acts, so the situation changes: maybe it is like two seasons of a sitcom. And, to be fair, it’s much better than most sitcoms. Maybe I am being unfair, but I can’t really think of anything else to say about it. The big development is that one of the characters brings order and efficiency to the chaos of the library, but it doesn’t bring happiness. It’s quite amusing but slightly forgettable. (Which is why I can think of anything to write: I can’t remember much about it.)

[Alaina Sloo · Rating 2 out of 5]

After reading and loving Frayn’s Noises Off, I thought I’d try a few more of his plays. This one had the same type of rapid-fire dialogue, but the farce didn’t work quite as well for me in print. I think this might be one of those works you have to see performed to appreciate well.

[Moushumi Ghosh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this play after being simply blown away by the brilliant Noises Off, an interpretation of Atul Kumar's. What fun that was! While reading Alphabetical Order I realised that I was seeing a master develop his craft. It's a good play but not a genius one. Definitely only for fans of Michael Frayn or fans of theatre in general.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

A clever play--probably better on its feet.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read with Portland Playreaders.