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22 August 2025
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4*****
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It seems strange to think that this 1925 comedy – one of Noel Coward’s earlier plays (revised in the 1950s) – should have ruffled the feathers of the authorities and been subject to serious questions by the office of the Lord Chamberlain, the censor of the time. The story of two women friends who both had a passionate affair with the same Frenchmen before they were married and who, after several years with their respective husbands, consider infidelity with the same man – well, how scandalous can you get? But such were the times.
Transferred to more contemporary times, the set gives more than a nod to the original period with some splendid art deco touches, this isn’t vintage Coward, but has so many of his hallmarks and offers signals of writing to come.
Coward wrote so well for both the male and female gender and here it is the female which takes centre stage, along with words of advice to the male of the species to take better care of their wives and lavish rather more love and attention on them or they will err!
In the central roles of Julia and Jane, which requires the duo to deteriorate from stone-cold sobriety to outrageous drunks, Victoria Porter and Kirsty Cox have a ball. Whether it is screaming at the top of their voices with spite or bent up double with laughter it is a joy to see these two at work: the ferocity of their argument puts one very much in mind of that of Coward’s ‘Private Lives’ which would hit the stage five years later. The energy is phenomenal and quite exhausting. As the two plot what to do, ever expectant of the arrival of their former lover, Maurice Duclos, the audience is party to their machinations and planning. Meanwhile, their rather dull husbands, Fred and Willy, are off on a golfing trip; boring they may be but Neil James and Tom Neill, give strong performances where they are very much not in control of things – though they think they should be.
Overseeing all matters is the maid, Saunders, played, with a knowing twinkle in her eye, by Nickie Johnson. The fact that she knows everything and has done everything is a wonderful running gag throughout. It is a wonderfully fun performance.
As the anticipation for the possible arrival of M. Duclos, tensions mount as he is announced. Mitch Capaldi arrives, dripping with style, sex appeal and a certain loucheness, with a sidelong glance here and a raised eyebrow there, he is hilarious. Appearing in the last ten minutes of the play, this is a complete scene stealer of a role and Capaldi takes the plaudits from the audience.
The play does have a slight balance issue; the opening argument scene does feel as if it just that little too long and the finale of the play does come upon you very suddenly, but director, Su Gilroy, instils plenty of pace into the production without compromising on the laughs.
It has been a pleasure to review each of the plays in the Gilroy Theatre Summer Season of Plays at the Marine Theatre. It is so very good to see another repertory company entertaining plenty of people in the South West; with The Manor Pavilion Theatre in Sidmouth currently celebrating its 68th year with great success, it just shows there is plenty of scope for more repertory companies at venues where they once thrived. Long may repertory theatre live.
Cast
Fred Sterroll – Neil James
Julia Sterroll– Victoria Porter
Saunders – Nickie Johnson
Willy Banbury – Tom Neill
Jane Banbury – Kirsty Cox
Maurice Duclos– Mitch Capaldi
Creatives
Writer – Noel Coward
Director – Su Gilroy
Lighting and Sound Design – Steve Miller
Set Design – Robert Sherwood
Stage Management – Tom Neill & Chloe Townshend
Production Assistant – Gary Fish
