Neptune Theatre’s production of How the Other Half Loves is finally home after selling out its summer run in Ontario.
The British comedy opened Monday night after selling out its summer run at the Thousand Islands Playhouse in Ontario. Now, Halifax audiences get their chance to see what all the laughter was about.
Written by Sir Alan Ayckbourn—one of Britain’s most celebrated playwrights—the 1970 farce follows three married couples whose lives become hopelessly tangled through infidelity and misunderstanding. Frank is the boss who employs both Bob and William. Bob is having an affair with Frank’s wife, Fiona, while his own marriage to Teresa is falling apart. Meanwhile, Mary wrongly suspects her husband William of cheating.
Things get really complicated when the two cheating couples separately invite William and Mary to dinner on back-to-back evenings—and both dinners happen simultaneously on the same set.
“How the Other Half Loves is a masterclass in structure, wit, and comedic timing,” says Jeremy Webb, Neptune’s artistic director, who also directed the production. “Audiences in Ontario seemed to love our production, and we can’t wait to share this fast-paced, laugh-out-loud production at home here in Halifax. Our talented cast are certainly working their comedic butts off!”
A comedy that’s stood the test of time
The play remains one of Ayckbourn’s most popular works more than 50 years after it premiered, thanks to its razor-sharp humour and ingenious staging. The overlapping dinner party scene—where two separate evenings unfold at once—has become one of the play’s most famous moments.
The Halifax production stars David Christoffel, Matthew Gorman, Kait Post, Aaron Reid Ryder, Genevieve Steele, and Sophie Wilcott. The creative team includes set designer Vickie Marston, costume designer Kaelen MacDonald, and lighting designers Leigh Ann Vardy and Andrew Crawford.
The show has already been extended to Nov. 16 due to strong ticket sales. Those interested can book by calling the box office at 902-429-7070 or visiting neptunetheatre.com.