Seriousness Redeemed by Frivolity: Ayckbourn's Intimate Exchanges

The comic and theatrical characteristics of Alan Ayckbourn's plays, which have enjoyed widespread commercial success, are integral to their underlying seriousness. Not only do these qualities embody themes, ideas, character relationships, and social attitudes; their very frivolity enables us to consider their seriousness in ways we would not otherwise do. What is fun about them enriches what is other than fun. Furthermore, it is in the theatre that his plays "work"; that is, function at their best. "Seriousness Redeemed by Frivolity" focuses on Intimate Exchanges, a major Ayckbourn comedy that is his largest and most substantial endeavour: eight plays, each with two final scenes. Both despite and because of its comedy and ingenious theatricality, it is very dark. When a male character dies the scene is funny, as it is when a female character has a mental breakdown. When a writer expends the effort on so sizeable a project and invites audiences to see its components on several days to enjoy variations that derive from different choices characters make at the end of a given scene, he reveals, intentionally or not, a great deal about his art. Apart from its length, Intimate Exchanges is intrinsically important and a remarkable accomplishment.