THE CONSTANT WIFE AT THE ARTS THEATRE
Kara Tointon as Constance
There’s a very sound reason why this Royal Shakespeare Production packs out theatres from London and beyond. It is must-see. The Constant Wife appears as a delightful drawing room drama. The set is beautifully lit, an exquisite drawing room that confidently exudes grace and charm, a room to dream of. Unsurprisingly as Somerset Maugham’s wife Syrie was an interior designer who dazzled the beau monde of London ‘s 1920s society with her ‘white rooms’ full of classically selected taste . From the outset he audience of the Constant Wife feelsl a relaxed sense of confidence - takes a deep breath of satisfied approval, here was a play to savour this is surely a delicious feast of fashion and style with a sharp witty script and much laughter.
But there is a discordant happening even as the house lights were still up. On to the stage the butler stalks. He is Bentley rendered with subversive skill throughout the action by Philip Rham Surreptitiously he sneaks towards the stylish white grand piano – and plays a lyrical piece of music (actually commissioned from Jamie Cullen). What is really happening here? Despite his very few lines, Bentley emerges as a touchstone for feeling and empathy in the drama. Moments later the interaction begins.
We’re in the Mayfair flat of Constance, yet to arrive, and her mother – a brilliantly understated role from Sara Crowe -she sparkles with the wisdom on maternal omniscience as she argues with her other daughter Martha.-a passionate performance throughout from Amy Vicary-Smith. Even though Laura Wade ( the-re-writer) rearranges the sequence so we have a dénouement appear just before the end of Act One and Martha has to begin Act Two with a five minute -long round up of the plot .Lots of comedy as her mother continues to thwart a confrontation. And then stylish Constance swings into the room, dazzling in her gorgeous outfit of the day. The costumes in this play deserve applause (well done Anna Flesichle. And Cat Fuller) as this leading lady powers through a sequence of priceless silks and glamorous suits. Kara Tointon gives a dazzling performance to a part riddled with hidden hurt, radical protest and a lack of love. Jocasta King ( with her own fabulous range of gorgeous gear ) is a gloriously superficial amoral flighty false friend , so charming anyone would (mistakenly) trust her.
Every time Constance, steps on stage , she is in a spectacularly luscious outfit (see above!). Here is a woman of confidence dressed with daring taste, for the theatre, for her home and for her work – and yes she is an interior designer. Shades of Syrie the ‘typhoon’ wife who blew into Maugham’s life with disastrous results.
The play is about women – the men (and they too have some fabulous suits and blazers to prance about in) are not as they imagine, in control - from John, Constance’s successful surgeon husband – Tim Delap gives us a sulky indulged charmer , and Alex Mugnaioni as Bernard Kersal Constance’s old admirer returned from Japan after fifteen years. In the comedy framework, Bernard is a key joist - devoted and ready to do anything for his lost love. Jules Brown as the terrifyingly angry male avenger Mortimer Durham only adds to the catalogue of hapless entitled tyrants – all of whom of course lead to lots of laughter.
Yet there is a serious undertow to the play. ‘In the guise of a smart little comedy of manners, The Constant Wife is in fact ablaze with, anger about the injustices and constraints of the married state’ The play is packed with paradox, faithless men declare undying love, one side betrays the other. Who is genuine and who ( aside from adorably sympathetic – and gay- Bentley)? And between the laughs who has the last one?
One departing woman confided outside the theatre as she unlocked her bike, “Is the resolution really what it seems, or is it all an on-going play. ' A playwright as sharp as Somerset Maugham is unlikely to believe in happy endings.
The Contant Wife runs through Saturday at the Arts Theatre
Alex Mugnaioni and Amy Vicary-Smith
