Donkey's Years

What's it like meeting people you haven't seen for 25 years? Michael Frayn tackles this very question in a comedy called Donkey's Years. Tonight Garry and I joined friends, Michael and Chris, at the Comedy Theatre to see the latest revival of this 30-year-old production. The plot centres around a group of middle-aged men gathering for a college reunion.

The First Act dragged a little in place, but the Second Act was rib-crackingly funny as a former student, now Education Minister, attempts to hide the Master's wife in his bedroom. The poor woman has been accidentally locked inside the college grounds over night. The minister finds himself trying to prevent her discovery by a fellow alumni member who now works for a national tabloid. The end result is truly hilarious.

I also had my own reunion of sorts today. I finally caught up with Strahan, the youngest brother of a close friend at University. Strahan and his wife have been living in the UK for almost three years now. We've tried unsuccessfully for almost eight months to meet up. Over lunch we worked out that we hadn't seen each other for at least 13 years - and I'd not seen his family since 1993 when I was last on their farm. It was wonderful to hear about old friends in New Zealand.

I've also recently rediscovered several high school friends using a reunion website. Several are planning to be in London next year so I have many more reunions ahead. The list of potential visitors includes people I've not seen for almost 20 years. It's incredible how the Internet can recreate communities and social networks otherwise lost in time.