When We Were Married

It is only a few weeks since I last saw a production of “When we are Married”and I was worried that I would not enjoy this version as much as the last one, but happily my worries were unfounded as this was a very enjoyable entertaining production brought to us by the members of the Rainhill Garrick Society.

This play was written by the English dramatist J. B. Priestley in 1934 and premiered at the St. Martin's Theatre, London in 1938. It is a comedy which makes fun of the smugness and hypocrisy of the British middle classes, and it is still a very enjoyable piece of theatre today as it has wonderful northern characters, full of quick paced humour with lots of laugh aloud comedy.

The play is set in the sitting room of Alderman Helliwell’s house in the town of Clecklewyke situated in the West Riding of Yorkshire. The story centres around three married couples celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary together on a September evening in 1920. Although the original play was set in Edwardian times, the story and action still fit very well in the 1920’s setting. All three couples were married on the same day in the same church by the same preacher and over the years they have risen to prominence as leaders of the community and the local chapel. However, even though they are in the middle of their celebrations they have another matter to settle concerning the new church organist Gerald Forbes, he has shockingly been seen out at night with a girl, they also think he is too "la-di-da" for them, so they plan to end his employment. They invite Gerald to the Alderman’s house for a meeting, but what they do not know is that "the girl" Gerald was seen with is none other than the Halliwell’s niece Nancy, and that Gerald is holding a trump card which has consequences for all three couples.While on holiday in Wales Gerald met the preacher who married the couples, who has since written him a letter with some shocking information, he confesses that at the time he married the couples he was newly ordained and unfortunately had omitted to get the relevant forms signed, so he was not qualified to officiate at their weddings, meaning their marriages are invalid and they are not actually married. On receiving this information the couples realise, they will be socially embarrassed, and their lives will turn upside down. However after the initial shock all three couples find themselves reevaluating their marriages, for hen-pecked Herbert Soppitt the situation gives him the chance to assert himself against his domineering wife Clara Soppitt and for Maria Helliwell and Annie Parker, they see the prospect of liberation from their husbands who in Albert Parker’s case is a miserly, dull, and pompous man, Joe Halliwell is also rather pompous as well as being a bit of a ladies man. Things deteriorate even more with the arrival of some unexpected colourful visitors which include among others a newspaper reporter and a drunk photographer, the result is confusion and turmoil.

Director Rosetta Parker had some talented actors at her disposal, who produced some very comedic characters and played their roles with confidence. All the roles in this play principle or supporting are very important for the success of this production, The six actors playing the three couples at the centre of the action all performed excellently producing six very different characters and were spot on in their roles, working together nicely, they included Tracey~ Duffy as Maria Helliwell, Alison Mawdsley as Annie Parker, and Lynn Aconley who was wonderfully domineering as Clara Soppitt. The three husbands included Rick Young as the philandering Joe Helliwell, George Lowe as stingy dull and opinionated Counsellor Albert Parker, with David Parker as Herbert Soppitt, who transforms from a melancholic hen-pecked husband to a confident man surprised at his own audacity. Other important wonderful comedic characters included Jo Webster in the role of Ruby the maid who was delightfully blunt and Gerald Walker as the wonderfully comedic Photographer Henry Ormonroyd, he became more inebriated and funnier as the play moved on. Edi Tinsley was Mrs Northrop the eavesdropping and unruly housekeeper and Linda Saavedra was Lottie Grady, Joe Halliwell’s lady friend who turns up when she hears about Joe’s marital status as Joe had told her they would be married if he was not already married. Sophie Brogan was the Helliwell’s niece Nancy and Tom Nevittt was her boyfriend and church organist Gerald. Then we had Michael Brennan as a very comedic vicar, and Tim Evan’s was Fred Dyson the newspaper reporter trying desperately to get his story. All the cast kept in character all the way through the production and the pace of the play was exactly right, dialogue could be easily followed, and accents were good. The play did have a successful conclusion but not until lessons are learned and life changing adjustments to relationships were made.

 There was just one set designed by Richard Parker which was nicely dressed in period props and furniture that were exactly right for the era this production was set in a great deal of thought must have gone into getting things as authentic as possible. The performance area and the action on stage was enhanced by good lighting and sound. Well, done Stage Manager and lighting Graham Swift with James McDonnell on Sound and there were also the important jobs of props, prompt, and any other backstage crew. The lovely costumes were exactly right for the characters and the era and added sparkle and authenticity to the production.

Congratulation to everyone involved including front of house in bringing this very enjoyable and entertaining production to the stage. My friend and I had a lovely enjoyable evening. Thank you very much for inviting us.

 

 

 

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