Play hopes that audiences have ‘Time’ of their ‘Lives’

“Time of My Life”

April 15-May 16

O’Reilly Theatre

April 15-May 16

O’Reilly Theatre

Tickets: $35-$55, $15 for students

www.ppt.org

Every time we look in the mirror, walk past a dusty photo or try to fit into an old pair of jeans, we are reminded that — no matter how much we protest — time is constantly passing.

Along the journey, we have the responsibility to decide which moments were the best, which were the worst and to remember those eccentric characters we’ve encountered.

That’s the theme at the center of Alan Ayckbourn’s play “Time of My Life,” which the Pittsburgh Public Theater will present tonight through May 16. The show is a snapshot in the lives of a multi-generational family celebrating the birthday of its matriarch, Laura. Joined by her husband, Gerry, their son Glyn, daughter-in-law Stephanie, second son Adam and his girlfriend, Maureen, she enjoys a celebratory meal at the swanky eatery Essa de Calvi.

Using the playwright’s pen like a magic wand, Ayckbourn takes two of his characters at a time to past, present and future points in their lives. The experiences prove to be valuable for each couple, and they all grow to appreciate their existences as they were, are and will be.

The Stratton family’s dining experience is ordinary as far as the characters are concerned, but the audience is immediately aware that something is off-kilter about the restaurant and its staff. Actor Tom Beckett, who performs as the restaurant owner as well as four members of its wait staff, is faced with a juggling act fit for the circus’ most adept clown.

Luckily for Beckett, this was not his first foray in the craft of portraying multiple characters in one play.

He said that his process for sorting through each individual personality involves carefully delineating each role before going back with darker strokes to completely individualize it. He simply concludes that “it takes work” to accomplish what he does onstage with his fellow actors.

Most performers practice special or even superstitious backstage rituals in preparation for just one onstage role. With this particular show, Beckett testifies to the power of vocal warm-ups to ready him for the rigors that a night’s performance demands of him. Beckett said he generally uses different means to get in the zone for each unique show and cast in which he participates.

No matter the amount of preparatory measures that an actor engages in backstage, it is the director’s duty in rehearsals to make sure that each cast member accurately portrays his vision once the curtain opens. At the helm of this production of “Time of My Life” is English director John Tillinger, an artist who is both well-acquainted with, and a big fan of, this playwright’s work.

“The dark sense of irony [in Ayckbourn’s play] has attracted me to directing this and other plays of his in the past,” Tillinger said.

For “Time of My Life” in particular, Tillinger found that once he chose the right actor, directing him to portray five characters posed no special difficulties. He also noted — even through thorough reading and comprehension of the text — he was not moved emotionally by the play’s familial and age-old themes.

He realized on a personal level that the play only corroborated his cynical views on life and love. Professionally, he gained valuable experience and learned about the potential for plays to affect all types of witnesses in different capacities.