WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1999

'Conquests' explores marriage, infidelity

By Tina Dhamija

On-Line Forty-Niner

Being a man of action has its ups and downs seemed to be the fitting message behind the South Coast Repertory's main stage play, "The Norman Conquests: Round and Round the Garden."

The play, written by British playwright Alan Ayckbourn, explores the concepts of love, marriage, infidelity and everything else in between.

Norman, played by Timothy Landfield, is a librarian whose misguided efforts to incite a swinging weekend ignites havoc among the women in his extended family.

The story is set around a weekend at Norman's mother-in-law's house with his wife Ruth, played by Lynnda Ferguson.

His actual "conquests" are his wife's sisters, Annie and Sarah, played by Susan Marie Brecht and Nike Doukas. But with such a tight circle of relation, Norman only has so much time to court his conquests.

Annie succumbs to Norman's advances during the second act, which gives way to much confusion and comedy as a love rectangle seemingly appears between Ruth, Norman, Annie and her twit of a boyfriend, Tom (Time Winters).

Norman tries to sneak a kiss with each of the women regardless of who is affected, even in the unhappily married union of Sarah and her husband, Reg, played by Allan Hendrick.

The play has an array of somewhat to very funny moments between all of the characters. Landfields' performance of the man/child Norman is quite good. Ayckman's story provides the realistic moments in the play, the ones that involve the dynamics of Ruth and Norman's dysfunctional marriage and how they make it function.

The "Norman Conquests" is a comedic look at marriage that has moments that are funny, but not as funny as expected. Perhaps this comedy is intended for those who are married or have been married.

The play runs through May 16. For more information, one may call (714) 708-5555.