One of Galton & Simpson's risqué scripts,
as Richard Briers' sexually frustrated office man hopes to try his hand at
wife-swapping, after a party invitation from King of the Swingers Henry McGee.
I haven't seen Briers play a lecher before - well, would-be lecher - and
the slight unfamiliarity of the casting makes the idea of being trapped in a
hot little office with this a secretary-ogling older man a bit more
uncomfortable than it might have been with another actor.
There are two scenarios and settings, one each side of the break. The first half is set in the office, and the situation establishes that the Briers character's frustrations are bubbling over, presents him with the potential salvation of the invitation to the swingers' party, and has him anticipate the enticing prospect while wrestling with the catch that he'll have to bring his wife with him in order to to be allowed in. This section is very funny, backed with a depth of convincing details of office politics and jealousies and the Briers' character's status envy of McGee, which then reverses and becomes fawning as soon as McGee offers to introduce him to willing women.
The second act is set on the landing outside McGee's flat, where Briers has become separated from his wife and has to wait outside the door. The farcical business of the husband and wife just missing each other through separate lift doors is amusing enough (and the story requires it), but there's less character development or insight into inner lives, making the comedy end up less interesting than it initially promised to be.
There are two scenarios and settings, one each side of the break. The first half is set in the office, and the situation establishes that the Briers character's frustrations are bubbling over, presents him with the potential salvation of the invitation to the swingers' party, and has him anticipate the enticing prospect while wrestling with the catch that he'll have to bring his wife with him in order to to be allowed in. This section is very funny, backed with a depth of convincing details of office politics and jealousies and the Briers' character's status envy of McGee, which then reverses and becomes fawning as soon as McGee offers to introduce him to willing women.
The second act is set on the landing outside McGee's flat, where Briers has become separated from his wife and has to wait outside the door. The farcical business of the husband and wife just missing each other through separate lift doors is amusing enough (and the story requires it), but there's less character development or insight into inner lives, making the comedy end up less interesting than it initially promised to be.
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