Stormin' Norman

Three is a magic number in popular culture. Trilogies abound in literature (Roddy Doyle's Barrytown Trilogy), film (The Lord of the Rings, The Matrix, etc.) and television (CSIs Miami, New York and Las Vegas). Joseph Campbell would probably say that the trilogy is a productive way to expose layers and fully explore a mythology; Jerry Bruckheimer would probably say that the trilogy is an excellent way to cash in on a successful concept. Either way, we as a culture have come to embrace the fact that in order to get all the answers, we must often invest in three movie tickets or purchase several volumes of a book. When playwright Alan Ayckbourn wrote The Norman Conquests, a trilogy of comedic plays about a group of unlucky-in-love adults, it was before the mother of all trilogies burst into cultural consciousness with Star Wars. Realizing that he couldn't expect audiences to return for all three plays, he wrote them so that each could stand alone. However, viewing all three installments (Table Manners, Living Together and Round and Round in the Garden) uncovers richly layered plot details that make your investment in this trilogy well worth the effort. Performed at Stage West, 821 W. Vickery Blvd. in Fort Worth, the plays can be viewed separately in a rotation or as a marathon through April 26. Tickets to each individual play run from $24 to $28 and can be bought online. Visit stagewest.org for showtimes and tickets.
Thursdays-Sundays. Starts: April 3. Continues through April 26, 2009