HOW THE OTHER HALF LOVES Old Vic, SE1

WHEN THE SAGE OF SCARBOROUGH SAW THROUGH THE SWINGING ‘SIXTIES 1969: nearly half a century ago, and this was Alan Ayckbourn’s breakthrough. Philip Breen’s direction respects the author’s taste for in-the-round production (which the Old Vic can do, since Spacey insisted on that reinvention). It achieves the famous immersion without loss (especially since Roger Allam can act expressively with his shoulderblades even if you’re sitting ten feet away behind him). It also beautifully respects both the period and the middle-age tastes of the older couple, Allam;s Frank and Dorothy Atkinson’s Fiona: there are a few bars of Sarstedt and Elvis between scenes, and a prim tea-tray and madam’s lounging pyjamas (Atkinson is the perfect ‘60s wife, her wardrobe pleasingly hilarious throughout, especially the final dirndl). The younger pair, Bob and Teresa, have a nicely messier living-room, though of course in the clever, tricksy Ayckbourn convention both are the same space, the pairs passing one…