Interview: Ashley Cook, starring in Absent Friends

Ashley Cook is currently starring as Colin in the UK tour of Absent Friends by Alan Ayckbourn.

Directed by Michael Cabot, London Classic Theatre’s production continues until 18th July 2015. Last seen in the West End in 2012, Absent Friends explores friendship, marriage and what it ultimately means to be happy. 

Ashley previously appeared in London Classic Theatre’s production of The Importance of Being Earnest. His extensive theatre credits include: King Lear (Old Vic/English Touring), The Mousetrap (St. Martin’s), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Belgrade), Romeo and Juliet (Derby), A Doll’s House and The Importance of Being Earnest (Lincoln Theatre Royal), She Stoops to Conquer and The Daughter-in-Law (Perth Theatre) and The White Carnation (Finborough/Jermyn Street).

On screen he has appeared in The Basil Brush Show and Patrick Hamilton: Words, Whisky and Women. I recently spoke to Ashley about what makes Colin such a fun role to play, why the show is different each night and how audiences have been responding…

How familiar were you already with Absent Friends?
I have to say, I didn’t know anything about it! I only read it for the first time when Michael (Cabot, director) and I started talking about it. 

Review: Absent Friends (UK Tour) at the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre

Absent Friends (UK Tour)
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
Reviewed on Thursday 14th 2015
★★★★

At a glance Absent Friends is a fun play about a group of friends coming together at a tea party to support Colin following the death of his fiancée; however, below the surface Alan Ayckbourn's piece delves into broken relationships, jealousy and how we cope when pushed to breaking point.

Full casting announced for Alan Ayckbourn’s Absent Friends 2015 UK Tour

Casting has been announced for the 2015 UK Tour of Alan Ayckbourn’s Absent Friends. The show runs as part of London Classic Theatre's 15th Anniversary season. 

The production opens at the Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne on 28th April and will tour to a total of 16 venues, concluding at Cheltenham's Everyman Theatre on 18th July 2015. See full tour dates below. 

The full cast includes: Ashley Cook (Colin), John Dorney (John), Kevin Drury (Paul), Catherine Harvey (Diana), Kathryn Ritchie (Evelyn) and Alice Selwyn (Marge). Michael Cabot directs with design by Simon Kenny and lighting by Andy Grange.

Review: South Downs & The Browning Version at The Harold Pinter Theatre

South Downs & The Browning Version

The Harold Pinter Theatre

Performance: Wednesday 25th May 2012

I really did not have a clue what to expect as I walked into the Harold Pinter theater, only 2 weeks after seeing the final performance of Absent Friends at the same theater, to see two, one act plays. The first is a new play called South Downs which was written David Hare, especially to go with Sir Terence Rattigan's play The Browning Version. Both focus on boys boarding houses set in the 1960s. My favourite play by far was South Downs. If the Browning Version been on first I think I would have enjoyed it more. Watch this video to find out more about the shows

Anna Chancellor was the best actor in the shows. Her experience shows as she delivered two faultless performances. Her scenes as Belinda Duffield were incredibly touching in South Downs. Then in the Browning version she really made me believe she was this horrible, wicked wife. Nicholas Farrell was also outstanding and again faultless, I completely understood every single emotion he went through despite not being a similar age or similar profession as his character. She had a fantastic entrance in South Downs, as she was the first woman in the play it felt strange to see her, I had kind of forgotten that females existed. 


Mark Umbers gave an interesting performance as Frank in The Browning Version. At first I liked him, then I loved him, then I didn't like him, them I liked him, then I hated him and then I ended up respecting him for doing the right thing. I like it when actors play their characters as human beings, who aren't stereotyped as one personality who always behaves the save way. We got to see how he behaves around students, colleges and lovers making him a much more relatable character. He also had great chemistry with all his fellow actors and I really do not know how... but he managed to pull off that outrageous white suit! I could not believe how experienced Jonothan Bailey is, still at such a young age. He was a very likable character and I would be interested to see his other work.  


And that brings me on to the actor everyone has been talking about... Alex Lawther. Firstly I do not know how he manages to balance A Levels with the West End. I had heard a lot about this actor. It did take me a while to warm to him, at first he was annoying but by the end of the show I was completely intrigued. You go on such a journey with him, slowly learning more about his character and why he is the way he is.

I would recommend this show to any actor, espiaclly training/aspiring actors. The acting is fascinating to study. I would suggest people of the older generation, especially those who went to boarding school should buy their tickets now. It has great characters and gives you the occasional chuckle. It's nice to see something different. To find out more and to book tickets http://www.browningversion.com/. TKTS also regulars has discounted tickets.

Review: Absent Friends at The Harold Pinter Theatre

Absent Friends
The Harold Pinter Theatre
Performance: 14th April 2012

On Saturday 14th April 2012 I went to see the final performance of Alan Ayckbourn's hilarious play, Absent Friends. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, all I knew is that I wanted a good laugh... and boy did I get one! After using that incredibly American phrase I am going to say how I thought this play demonstrated British humour at it's best - British people laugh at the problems of other British people. 

I loved the way with this play all the comedy was in the script, and the delivery of the lines instead of the physicality of the actors. In fact the only physical comedy was when Diana (Katherine Parkinson - Sherlock, IT Crowd, Doc Martin)  poured cream over her husband Paul (Steffan Rhodri - Gavin & Stacey) at the climax of an argument.

Here is a video interview of the cast, producer and writer which will tell you more about the play.

I have to say I LOVED Kara Tointon's (Pygmalion, Strictly, Eastenders) portrayal of young Evelyn. She kept it so simple and succeeded in being incredibly funny. Normally is is the actors that go over the top which are funniest however by keeping everything to a minimal, even head movement she had me in fits of laughter!!

Kara Tointon as Evelyn

I wasn't majorly keen on David Armand's (The Secret Policeman's Ball, My Family) John. I felt like there was so much more he could have done with the character.

Elizabeth Berrington who played Marge really stole the show for me. She is a comedy genius! The faces she fulls are soooooo soooo soooooo funny! The show is about a tea party where nobody wants to mention Colin's fiance who drowned who none of them had met. Just after he arrived Diana was making tea and Elizabeth Berrington says 'don't drown it. It was simply comedy genius - the script was just so funny and Elizabeth Berrington's facial expression when she realised what she had just said was amazing. I really would love to see her in other roles as I really think she is so talented. 

Katherine Parkinson was also outstanding as Diana. It must have been very draining for her though as her character goes through such a journey and ends up having this massive meltdown. I loved her monologue at the begging though where she is trying to find out if Tointon's character is having an affair with her husband. She did did it in a way which meant at first the audience were not quite sure that is what she was getting at however over time the audience finally realizes. It was a very clever monologue.

Steffan Rhodri was also great at portraying the stereotypical annoying, miserable husband Paul. The only thing I can fault him on is his accent. It slipped a few times and my friend who I watched it with thought maybe he was going a bit Australian (she hasn't seen Gavin & Stacey). He was good at getting the character across to the audience as straight away I didn't really like him (which means he did it well)

Finally Reece Shearsmith was perfect for Collin. He played the part outstandingly and was so funny. I loved how at ease and comfortable he came across. He had great comic timing and he thought about his every single move which makes the character that bit more believable.

This was a great play and if ever you get the chance to see it... I would jump at it! Unfortunately it has now finished it's run at the Harold Pinter however I am sure it will pop up again. It has also introduced me to Alan Ayckbourn's work. He is a very clever writer and I would like to see how Absent Friends compares to his other work. I loved how at the end of the show the cast didn't realize there were people trying to give them flowers to mark the last night. They seemed like they had got close during the run and had great chemistry. 

Perfect actors, perfect writing, perfect play.