Description:

When it comes to a playwright who has passed the milestone of his seventy-fifth play, you might be forgiven for getting mixed up between his productions, or for thinking that the quality of his work might be on the decline.

Not so when the playwright in question is Alan Ayckbourn, however – as he draws ever nearer to his hundredth dramatic offering, his passionate characters, captivating plot lines (and propensity for garden ornaments) remain wholly undiminished. The truth of this statement speaks for itself on viewing play number 75, Neighbourhood Watch, currently showing at the Theatre Royal in Bath.

A tale told in retrospect, Neighbourhood Watch even has a hauntingly prophetic quality to it. Despite the fact that it was penned long before the London riots, the play still manages to present a sort of 'parallel universe' example of how these events might have panned out - had the middle-classes panicked and responded in kind to the violence. This is almost the case in Neighbourhood Watch, whose buttoned-down, God-fearing cast gradually decay into a fascist regime with aspirations of controlling the violent and anti-social youths in their local area.

It has to be said that the pace of this revolution's escalation is unrealistic. Given the appropriate violent stimulus, it's possible that the middle classes would respond with force – but the speed at which this progresses within the play is remarkable. That said, it also has to be said that it doesn't matter. Ayckbourn's masterful writing (and masterful direction) have wrought a production for which an audience is only too happy to suspend their disbelief.

Praise must also be extended to the play's cast, who present the audience with comedy, chemistry and chaos in equal measure. Matthew Cottle (as Martin Massie) in particular is a joy to watch – his rapid transformation from the mild-mannered, straight-laced Christian man he is at the start of the play to zealous neighbourhood dictator is expertly portrayed.

That's not to say that Cottle carries this production, though. His performance (and the character's madness displayed therein) is steadily drip-fed by the various attitudes of his co-stars. Watching from the stalls, you feel a real sense of frustration as Martin's head is slowly filled up with paranoia by retired security guard Rod (Terrence Booth) and Daily Mail advocate Dorothy (Eileen Battye) and with lust by his neighbour's cheating wife Amy (Frances Grey.) Grey herself smoulders with her bright red hair and brazen manner, as she sets about corrupting Cottle's initially rather sexless Martin.

Precise, poignant and all too possible; all aspects of Ayckbourn's landmark play that make it such an engaging experience. In these dark days of 'broken Britain' and similar talk, the idea that parts of the country could become a despotic, gated community as displayed in Neighbourhood Watch seems to lurk just beyond the pale. In creating an entertaining dramatic production, Ayckbourn has offered his audience a pointed warning of the dangers of fearmongering and the demonisation of 'youths'.

It might not sound like a big claim when I say that Neighbourhood Watch is a real contender for the best play of the year, given that we're only in February. But unless its competitors start to up their game, there's every chance that I'll still be saying that in December.

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH appears at the Theatre Royal Bath until Saturday 18th February.  To book tickets contact the Theatre Royal Box Office on 01225 448844 or visit www.theatreroyal.org.uk

Reviewed by Dan Hart

Life in Somerset is a dramatic affair. If you're interested in being a part of it, then get in touch with letting agents in Bath today.