When We Are Married

J. B. Priestley’s When We Are Married appears to be ageless; as bright upon the stage now as at its first production in 1938 and remains a well loved and humorous period piece. The key to Priestley is that the humour comes from the quick exchange of words between the characters and is, in a way, a verbal farce. I am sure everyone must know the plot of this 20th century classic so I am not going to repeat it here.  If you don’t Google it!   The play has a cast of 15 so is a casting challenge for any society. 

Designed and constructed by a large team, the set of an Edwardian sitting room was ideal. Well done on searching out appropriate wallpaper! Great thought had been given to set dressing and props (good job Charlotte Bruce) although it would have been nice to have some window dressing for the French windows and the photograph of the three couples was in a modern picture frame which, as it was handled and passed round, was obviously of today’s style with the black metal clips holding the back on.   The selection of costumes for the ladies was good as was the elegant formal suits for their men finished off well with highly polished shoes, in those days the sign of a successful man.  The Argus reporter’s raincoat didn’t seem to be in period. To my mind an overcoat would have been better and gentlemen always removed headgear when entering a house, particularly one of the social strata of the Helliwells.   Lighting and sound cues are minimal for this play but both did everything they needed to. Congratulations on the lovely poster and programme design (Artwork by Karen Hebert). 

Three couples are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary therefore much of the action revolves around them; Alderman Joseph Helliwell & Maria Helliwell (Geoff Durrant and Sharon Reed), Councillor Albert Parker & Annie Parker (Simon West & Abi Pearson) and Herbert Soppitt and Clara Soppitt (Mark Hebert & Ann Lister). All were played with great confidence and as each realised that they were not actually legally married, cracks opened in their relationships with realistic conviction. Whilst Annie Parker and Herbert Soppitt had previously been the underdog in their respective relationships, the news of their changed circumstances gave them a new found strength of character and was well played with amusing results. 

The smaller roles add comedy and variety and keep the plot moving whilst allowing those of the three central couples to develop.   Ruby Birtle, the maid, is my favourite character in When We Are Married.  Most of the older roles come with a lifetime of baggage, but everything seems new and exciting to Ruby.  Francesca Mann played her with a bouncy naivety that was a joy to watch. A super performance.  Vi Parkinson as Mrs Northrop, the housekeeper had a nervy start but settled into the role well delivering some great exit lines.  Turning up to record the happy event was photographer Henry Ormonroyd  (Neal Dench) from the Yorkshire Argus.  Neal gave a very convincing performance as the alcohol soaked photographer, at one point seemingly totally unaware he was dripping his overfull pint over himself and the floor.   Good support was also provided by Chris Thompson as Chapel Organist Gerald Forbes, Katy Hughes as the Helliwell’s niece Nancy Holmes and by Karen Bays, who as Lottie Grady, (an old flame of Alderman Helliwell), calls by with some further embarrassment to those gathered. There was a lovely little scene too between Lottie and Ormonroyd drinking themselves silly. The cast was completed by Jago Pearson as Fred Dyson a reporter from the Argus, Phil Bailey as the Rev. Clement Mercer and a mini-cameo performance by Paul Silver as the Mayor of Clecklewyke

This was an excellent opening night. First night nerves gave way to shaky dialogue in a couple of places but I am sure Director Mark Hebert (also playing Herbert Soppitt) and Assistant Director Maggie Redgrave were pleased with their cast who brought out all the humour of this great play with some beautifully delivered comic dialogue. Overall an extremely entertaining evening enjoyed by a very appreciative audience.

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