What happens when a man living a double life has a serious accident, and wakes up to find both his wives at his bedside?

This question is answered in The Ride Down Mt. Morgan at The Abbey Theatre from Friday, April 21.

Written by Arthur Miller, the story concerns Lyman Felt, a wealthy owner of insurance companies, who crashes his car and is left unconscious in hospital. When he wakes, Theo, his wife of 30 years, and his second wife, Leah, have already met in the waiting room.

They had no idea the other existed and are demanding that Lyman explain himself.

We learn that Lyman has been living this lie for ten years, keeping two wives and two children in two different cities, each unaware of their bigamous connection.

Although set in the hospital, the play floats to other places, in Lyman’s memory, dreams and hallucinations. As Lyman’s wives discover the extent of his infidelity, his carefully constructed double life threatens to unravel completely.

Director Angela Stone sees the character of Lyman as “both ancient and modern.”

She says: “Throughout the ages we have seen men wielding power and money to get their own way, following their own desires without reference to the consequences for other people (often women) around them.

 “When this play was chosen for the season in late 2015, ‘The most powerful man in the World’ was very different from the one who is now in office. Lyman’s language, rules for living and the way in which power and money are an aphrodisiac, suddenly seem very familiar.”

Abbey Theatre Studio, Westminster Lodge, Holywell Hill, St Albans, AL1 2DL, from Friday, April 21 until Saturday, April 29. Details: 01727 857861, abbeytheatre.org.uk