To mark the popular revival, the blog has unearthed 10 facts you probably didn't know about the play.
Confusions is in repertory at the Stephen Joseph Theatre until 26 September and further information and booking information can be found at www.sjt.uk.com.
10 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Confusions
1) Contrary to practically all reports, all five of the Confusions plays are linked. In Mother Figure, Lucy is married to Harry, who we see trying to call her. Harry is the businessman who appears in Drinking Companion and who is served drinks by a waiter. This is the same waiter who appears in Between Mouthfuls (at presumably the same hotel), who serves Mrs Pearce and her husband. Mrs Pearce appears in Gosforth's Fete and mention is also made of her husband. In the final play, A Talk In The Park, the most subtle and easily missed connection is that Doreen is the former wife of Gosforth, who Milly mentions in Gosforth's Fete. Doreen talks about her former husband being a landlord, which is a subtle reference to Gosforth.
2) The origin of Confusions lays in another play entirely. Mother Figure was originally written for an evening of short plays by different authors called Mixed Blessings (a follow up to the well-known Mixed Doubles, to which Alan also contributed). However, Mixed Blessings had just one week of performances in Horsham and Alan took back Mother Figure to use as the first play in Confusions.
3) The earliest known notes relating to Confusions show it was originally intended to feature six plays. The plays (except Mother Figure) did not have proper titles but were described as: Bride & Groom - Discovery; Marriage Breaker - Reunion & Interrogation; Mother Figure; Man Whose Wife Leaves Him; Reversals (I); Reversals (II).
4) The inspiration behind Between Mouthfuls was Alan Ayckbourn's only produced - and little seen - screenplay Service Not Included. Broadcast at 11pm on 20 May 1974 on BBC1, it is a half hour piece which follows a waiter in a hotel during an end of conference party. Everything is seen through his eyes and we only get snippets of conversation from the guests. Alan refined the idea for Between Mouthfuls in which we only hear what the Waiter hears as he moves between two restaurant tables.
5) Gosforth's Fete was inspired by Alan's experience of civic events during the early 1970s - one suspects when a guest of the Mayor during Scarborough Cricket Festival. The frequency of things not going to plan inspiring the chaos that permeates Gosforth's Fete.
6) It is the only play written by Alan Ayckbourn which was conceived to be performed in-the-round, three-sided and end-stage. The play relaunched touring from the Library Theatre in Scarborough and the tour visited Scarborough (three-sided), Whitby (proscenium arch / end-stage) and Filey (in-the-round). As a result, the set had to be very simple, practical and be able to fit in the back of a van!
7) It was initially hoped the Eric Thompson (father of the actress Emma Thompson) would direct the West End premiere of Confusions - having directed the West End productions of Time & Time Again, Absurd Person Singular, The Norman Conquests and Absent Friends). However his recent experiences directing the flop musical Jeeves by Alan Ayckbourn and Andrew Lloyd Webber and his busy schedule meant Alan Strachan - a now notable director of Alan's plays - directed the production.
8) Despite being written as an ensemble piece, the West End production of Confusions was star led with the husband and wife team of Pauline Collins and John Alderton. The latter cherry-picking all the best roles (Harry, the Waiter and Gosforth) thus losing the links between the plays and the ensemble feel. When he broke his ankle during the run, he performed one evening in a wheelchair and also with his foot in a cast subsequently.
9) Confusions has had more radio productions than any other Ayckbourn play - and yet has never been broadcast in its entirety. In 1979, Mother Figure was broadcast; in 1985, Mother Figure, Between Mouthfuls and Gosforth's Fete; In 1986, Mother Figure, Between Mouthfuls, Gosforth's Fete and A Talk In The Park; in 1988, just Gosforth's Fete. All were different recordings with different casts. Mother Figure and Gosforth's Fete have both been adapted for the radio more times than any other Alan Ayckbourn play with three productions.
10) In a report produced by the licensing agents Samuel French in 2013, Confusions was named the most produced Ayckbourn play by amateur companies.
You can find out more about Confusions at Alan Ayckbourn's Official Website here.
Confusions is in repertory at the Stephen Joseph Theatre until 26 September and further information and booking information can be found at www.sjt.uk.com.
Copyright: Simon Murgatroyd. Please do not reproduce this article without permission of the copyright holder.
