19/11/2019 – Scene Magazine – From the heart of LGBTQ+ Life

Ten Times Table

Devonshire Park Theatre

Ten Times Table is the inaugural production of THE Classic Comedy Theatre Company, produced by Bill Kenwright. There’s a superb line up of acting talent in this production and that’s one of the strongest things going for it. The plot takes us into the faded ‘grand’ ballroom of the local Swan Hotel, a most miscellaneous assemblage gathers to conduct the business of the Pendon Folk Festival, led by excitable chairman Ray. Unfortunately, for Ray, his calamitous committee quickly divides, as his wife Helen has a bone to pick with just about anyone. Add a Marxist schoolteacher, a military dog-breeder and an octogenarian secretary, and the table is set for one of Ayckbourn’s comedy/farce plays.

The cast do well with what is a mostly obnoxious grouping of people to engage with, no one took my sympathy on stage and I didn’t feel connected to the story but the silver haired audience around me seemed to approve of the repression, petty meanness, social brutality and parochial idealism displayed on stage. Eastbourne writ large in front of us perhaps.

The play feels dated, not only with in it’s setting, late 70’s England but also its social attitudes. Then there are flashes of superbly contemporary settings, is life becoming a joke? do these go in circles? or has Ayckbourne just uncovered an unchanging part of English sensibility. It’s not a British play this but an English one, and its examination of class, and social interactions through the life of a committee works well.

The first half is all set up and back story before the second half opens with some lovely ranting and the pressure is racked up. The narrative pace picks up, the costumes changes highlighting the absurdity and the play brings itself to a decent enough climax.

The smallest amount of lines but the biggest laughs of the night went to Elizabeth Power as the slightly befuddled mother of the boring local councillor, Powell knows the value of less-is-more and the audience adored her. Robert Duncan’s portrayal of alcoholic Lawrence is a spot-on depiction of man whose life is in freefall. Harry Gostelow’s portrayal of jingoistic brother, manic ex-soldier and bonkers dog breeder is wonderfully feverish with a hearty touch of the Price Phillip about him, he lights up the second act.

The set is lovely, faded and dingy but perfectly presented, with some superb lighting.

Not a particularly thrilling evening at the theatre, but then Ayckbourn is what he is. If you’re a fan, you’ll enjoy this rarely seen and curiously situated piece of his work.

At the delightfully comfortable and very reasonably priced Devonshire Park Theatre

Until Sat 23^rd November

For more info or to book tickets see their website here:

Ahead of the UK General Election we are hosting an LGBTQ Election hustings on November 27^th. The G-Scene News Team has written to all candidates, in all three Brighton & Hove constituencies, asking them all the same question.

We shall share their answers with you as we get them over the following days

Today we hear from Caroline Lucas from The Green Party standing in Brighton Pavilion

”What do you see as the challenges faced by our LGBTQ+ communities in Brighton&Hove, and how would you address them in Parliament if we elect you to represent us?”

If I am re-elected to represent you as MP for Brighton Pavilion, I will keep doing all I can to champion LGBTQ+ rights at home and abroad.

In Parliament, I’m proud to have been a leading voice in the campaign for inclusive mandatory sex and relationship education, and it will continue to be a priority for me. I will stand unequivocally against outrageous bullying and harassment outside primary schools.

I will work for an end to blanket restrictions on men who have sex with men donating blood – we need to switch to individual risk assessment, and I will continue campaigning for all who need it to have access to the HIV prevention drug PrEP.

I believe so called ‘disregards and pardons’ should be extended with any gay ‘offences’ not currently included added – and that men prosecuted under previous discriminatory laws should be compensated. I will continue to defend and advance trans rights, including privacy, legal affirmation of gender identity by a process of statutory self-declaration, and access to timely appropriate treatment. I will stand for Trans Pride, and against exclusion and discrimination, including speaking out in the media when equality and human rights are attacked or undermined.

I will champion respect for LGBTQ+ human rights in any future trade deals and continue to demand that LGBTQ+ refugees who flee persecution be protected by the Government, as well as an end to the detention and deportation of LGBTQ+ people who seek asylum.

Locally, I will continue working with the LGBTQ+ community on equality of access to services in particular, and to tackle hate crime. In short, if re-elected as MP for Brighton Pavilion, I will keep advocating for and celebrating LGBTQ+ rights at every opportunity. My door will always be open to my LGBTQ+ constituents and I will stand #Proud.

The GScene LGBTQ+ Election Hustings. Wednesday 27^th November 7 – 9pm. Dorset Gardens Methodist Church. All Welcome