• What's On
    • past productions
  • Get Involved
    • giving
  • news
    • development
  • book
  • members
  • Information
    • Statement on Coronavirus
    • youth theatre
    • safeguarding
    • map
    • Membership Forms
Chesil Theatre
  • What's On
    • past productions
  • Get Involved
    • giving
  • news
    • development
  • book
  • members
  • Information
    • Statement on Coronavirus
    • youth theatre
    • safeguarding
    • map
    • Membership Forms

Review of When We Are Married 

2/12/2015

0 Comments

 
Set in 1908 Yorkshire, J B Priestley’s play is a witty insight into Edwardian marriage and a timeless exposition of what is both tender and ridiculous in human nature. And it is funny, very funny. Three middle-aged couples meet to celebrate their wedding anniversaries – all married on the same day in the same place. Their comfortable middle-class bubble is burst when it transpires their marriages may not have been solemnised by a fully qualified clergyman. How can they possibly keep up appearances? However, after much chaos and confusion all ends happily.
 
Chesil Theatre did full justice to Priestley’s well-crafted dialogue and characterisations. Norma York’s faultless comedic timing as the mischievous charlady, Mrs Northrop, stood out. Harriet Gandy as Ruby the maid was equally entertaining as a 15-year-old working class lass, breezing through the trauma in her employers’ lives as if it were a works outing.
 
The obtuse and pompous Councillor Albert Parker was captured perfectly by Eric Petterson. Juliet Surridge as his wife gave a subtle performance, gradually emerging from her timidity with very satisfactory results. Caroline Hall and Paul Revell were convincing as the snobbish Helliwells. A very scary Clara Soppitt was played by Rachel O’Neill and Stephen Percy gained our sympathy as Herbert, the woebegone husband. Richard Martin was hilarious as the drunken photographer and well matched with Marina Humphrey’s saucy performance as Lottie.
 
The production was authentic to the period, from costumes by Gerry Tuff to sound designer Malcolm Brown’s jaunty brass band music. The detailed Edwardian parlour furnishings were meticulous from set designer David James. Director Lisbeth Rake used the theatre’s small stage very cleverly. At the beginning of the play, the three wives are seated passively whilst the men stood authoratively, but this tableau shifted as the play progressed. The movement and placement underscored the changes in dynamics as social reserve began to seep away. This was a polished performance from the Chesil Theatre’s actors and a great evening’s entertainment.
 
Jenny McRobert
 

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    news

    Latest news from the Chesil Theatre

    archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015

    categories

    All

    RSS Feed

    historical news
Picture
Picture
​Proud members of the Little Theatre Guild and the National Operatic and Drama Association
Picture
Picture
Copyright 2021
The Winchester Dramatic Society, registered company 1621492 in England & Wales at the Chesil Theatre, Chesil Street, Winchester SO23 0HU. Registered Charity 285043, limited by guarantee.