Norman Conquests, Part 1: Table Manners

Plot

Produced for British television, The Norman Conquests was based on a trilogy of stage comedies by Alan Ayckbourn. Each playlet is set in a different room under the same roof: the home of Norman (Tom Conti) and his family. In Part 1, Table Manners, Norman attempts to seduce his two sisters-in-law, a feat that soon becomes an "open secret." Also starring is Penelope Keith as the lady of the house, who tends to treat human beings like place settings at a huge, never-ending banquet. Richard Briers, who co-starred with Ms. Keith in the BBC TV series Good Neighbours, heads the cast list. All three parts of The Norman Conquests were telecast in the US over PBS and various cable services. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Review

The Norman Conquests is Alan Ayckbourn's intricately plotted, three-part comedy of manners, each episode taking place more or less concurrently with the other two, letting the audience gradually discover bits and pieces of the story as each play unfolds. While this makes the experience a "whole is greater than the sum of its parts" experience, one shouldn't assume that the individual parts are anything less than splendid. Part one, Table Manners, more than holds its own as an individual play. Ayckbourn's keen mathematical mind -- necessary to structure a trilogy such as this -- doesn't get in the way of his ability to evoke both laughter and sadness; indeed, there's a great deal of melancholy loneliness running underneath the jokes and banter, creating a sextet of characters that live and breathe fully on their own. Table Manners gives its best moments to Penelope Keith and Penelope Wilton, both of whom play their parts to utter perfection. Keith's tender last few moments with Tom Conti are a wonder to behold, topped moments later by Wilton's stunning work smashing plates and begging for a small piece of happiness. This isn't to slight the rest of the cast, especially Conti, who makes his lengthy introductory monologue an undeniable highlight. Directed with a fine hand by Herbert Wise, Table Manners is witty, captivating adult viewing. ~ Craig Butler, Rovi

Cast

Richard Briers; Tom Conti; Penelope Keith; David Troughton; Fiona Walker; Penelope Wilton

Credit

Herbert Wise - Director

Previous:	Norman Blake's Guitar Techniques (1990 Film), Norman (2010 Film)
Next:	Norman Conquests, Part 2: Living Together (1980 Film), Norman Conquests, Part 3: Round & Round the Garden (1980 Film)