5 STARS, October 16-21. Tara Ward finds that “How The Other Half Loves” at Richmond Theatre is a brilliant, rambunctious romp through three interconnecting marriages
Pamela Raith
I must confess, I was in “How Other Other Half Loves” many years ago in a weekly rep and was curious to see how this 1969 piece would hold up now. I was delighted to find that it remains a beautifully constructed, very funny and surprisingly touching play. Writer Alan Ayckbourn is one of England’s true national treasures in the arts and entertainment world. Long may he reign.
The play’s premise is multi-faceted. Three marriages undergo a series of mishaps on a stage that houses two locations simultaneously- and takes place on different days. Add in the fact that even the furniture such as the sofa and dining table are split into two separate spaces – whilst interlocking together- and the sophistication of the play becomes apparent. I know from experience any rehearsal process for How The Other Half Loves is intense and requires total concentration as characters frequently cross the stage at speed within an inch or two of each other, yet they mustn’t touch as they are in separate houses and time frames.
The success of this production is very much due to the stellar cast led by the massively talented Robert Daws with Charlie Brooks, Matthew Cottle, Sara Crowe, Caroline Langrishe and Leon Ockenden.
Pamela Raith
It is also the support around them that adds the magic. Director Alan Strachan’s long association with Alan Ayckbourn – he has directed several revivals of this play- means he understands the nuances and complexities of this extraordinary script in a way that others might not grasp. Julie Godfrey ably handles the challenging set design; she is also responsible for the wonderful 60/70’s costumes that no doubt led many of the older audience down memory lane.
Whilst the play is clever and funny, the secret of farce being well played is the sincerity with which the actor handles a character finding themselves in ridiculous circumstances. For me, Robert Daws gives a master class in how to do this. He is wonderfully amusing and his timing is superb but he is also poignant and heart wrenching and his truthful depiction of a well-meaning man desperate to hold on to his marriage made tears spring unexpectedly to my eyes towards the end.
If I had to find one niggle, it would be that some sections could be tightened and sped up. It comes in at a lengthy 155 minutes including interval and would lose nothing by being a fraction shorter. But the applause was long and sustained at the end so, if you get the opportunity to see it at a theatre near you, know you are guaranteed an engaging, laughter-filled few hours.
- How The Other Half Loves is at Richmond Theatre until October 21, for tickets, visit: atgtickets.com. The play then heads to Guildford's Yvonne Arnaud Theatre between October 23-28. For tickets, visit: yvonne-arnaud.co.uk
- For more from Tara Ward, visit: facebook.com/tarawardbooks
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