'Norman Conquests" in Chester

The unusually strong link between the Chester Theatre Group and a legendary British playwright is about to yield another notable production for this ambitious community-theater company.

Michael T. Mooney, who studied theater arts for five years under Alan Ayckbourn, directs the revival of Ayckbourn’s “The Norman Conquests,” which opens May 4 at the Black River Playhouse.

Set in different rooms of one house, “The Norman Conquests” actually is a trilogy of plays, which will be presented over three consecutive weekends. The first part, titled “Table Manners,” will be offered at 8 p.m. May 4 and 4, with an encore Sunday matinee beginning at 3 p.m. on May 13.
The second installment, “Living Together,” begins 8 p.m. on May 11 and 12, while the final chapter, “Round and Round in the Garden,” begins 8 p.m. May 18 and 19.
Finally, on “Marathon Sunday,” May 20, all three plays will be presented, in reverse order, at 1, 4 and 8 p.m., with breaks for afternoon tea and dinner. Final single performances of the respective chapters will be offered on May 24, 25 and 26.

Written in 1973, this comic trilogy details the amorous exploits of Norman, an assistant librarian whose one aim is to make the women in his life happy. Each play stands on its own, and can be enjoyed in any order, but all link with the others to form a puzzle of successive revelations.
The three plays feature the same six characters over the same weekend in a different part of a house. “Table Manners” is set in the dining room; “Living Together” in the living room and “Round and Round the Garden” in the garden.

Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, Ayckbourn is considered the world’s most frequently performed English-language playwright other than Shakespeare. His “Communicating Doors” was seen at the Bickford Theatre in Morris Township a few years back, while Mooney has directed several Ayckbourn plays in Chester, including three American premiere productions.
Producer and board president Penny Hoadley produced the previous Chester Theatre Group production of “The Norman Conquests” in 1986.

The cast includes Chris Mortenson of Oldwick, David C. Neal of Fanwood, Carol Holland of Long Valley, Patrick Carpenter of Somerset, Ruth Morley of Ridgewood and Roxanna Wagner.

"The Norman Conquests" require some commitment from the audience as well as the production team, but for those who have the time and stamina, this should be quite a theatrical treat.

Advance tickets are $15 for one show, $25 for two and $30 for three. Single tickets at the door are $18, $15 for seniors and students (except Saturday night). Tickets for the marathon, including afternoon tea, are $35. The Black River Playhouse is at the corner of Grove and Maple streets in Chester Borough. For information, call (908) 879-7304 or visit www.chestertheatregroup.org.