Jump to content

Life of Riley (play)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Life of Riley
Original languageEnglish
Written byAlan Ayckbourn
CharactersKathryn
Colin
Simeon
Tamsin
Jack
Monica
SubjectTerminal illness, relationships
GenreComedy
Premiere
Date21 September 2010
PlaceStephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
Official website
Ayckbourn chronology

Life of Riley is a 2010 play by Alan Ayckbourn. It was first performed at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough.[1]

Structure

[edit]

It is set over a period over the seven months that a man called George Riley is diagnosed with a terminal illness, although George Riley does not appear in the play himself and is only ever referred to by the six onstage characters.

This play is the only Ayckbourn play to directly reference another Ayckbourn play (Relatively Speaking) within the story.[2]

Characters

[edit]
  • George Riley (unseen)
  • Colin
  • Kathryn
  • Jack
  • Tamsin
  • Monica - Riley's ex-wife
  • Simeon
  • Small boy (unseen)
  • Teenage daughter (unseen)
  • Basil Bender (unseen) [3]

Adaptation into film

[edit]

The play was filmed by the French director Alain Resnais, as Aimer, boire et chanter (2014).[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Berry, Kevin (22 September 2010). "Life of Riley review at Stephen Joseph Theatre Scarborough | Review | Theatre | The Stage". The Stage. Archived from the original on 18 June 2018. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  2. ^ Ayckbourn, Alan (2011). Alan Ayckbourn Plays 5: Snake in the Grass; If I Were You; Life and Beth; My Wonderful Day; Life of Riley. Faber & Faber. ISBN 9780571274635.
  3. ^ Purves, Libby (21 September 2010). "The Life of Riley at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough". The Times. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  4. ^ Kenny, Glenn (24 October 2014). "Life of Riley Movie Review & Film Summary (2014) | Roger Ebert". www.rogerebert.com. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
[edit]