Review – Widowers’ Houses
Date Reviewed: 21st April, 2009
Venue: Royal Exchange
Widowers’ Houses by George Bernard Shaw, the latest production at the Royal Exchange, is in turns a comedy of manners, a romance, and a satire on greed. These various elements come together in this period piece which defies expectations, even as it entertains.
The story concerns Dr Harry Trench and his friend William de Burgh Cockane who meet Mr Sartorius and his daughter, Blanche, while on holiday in Europe. Harry and Blanche fall in love and it is their story which fulfils the romance part of the plot. The added complication comes from Mr Sartorius’s money having come from his being one of the worst slum landlords in London. Harry’s reaction to learning this news leads the rest of the play to its conclusion.
Ben Addis and Ian Shaw, as Trench and Cockane are utterly engaging as the young Englishmen learning to make their way in life, with Shaw getting many of the largest laughs of the night. In turn, Lucy Briggs-Owen as the volatile Blanche is hugely entertaining while Ian Bartholomew also provides a captivating performance as the Machiavellian Mr Lickcheese. Starring as Mr Sartorius, Roger Lloyd Pack brings his usual lugubriousness to the role, along with an underlying menace, but unfortunately he is the least convincing member of the ensemble. Whether this is his status as a well known TV ‘star’ making it harder to suspend disbelief, or the sheer size of the role being too big for him, it is hard to tell. But the others are simply more believable.
As always at the Exchange, the set design, courtesy of Ashley Martin-Davis, is both surprising and exactly suited to the play, with the props managing to conjure the period as clearly as the costumes and the dialogue. Greg Hersov‘s direction allows the play to run smoothly with occasional theatrical flourishes which make best use of the actors and the stage.
This is a good production of an entertaining play which has more romance than you would expect from a satire and is more satirical than your average romantic comedy. The result leaves a satisfying feeling of depth with a cynical twist which undercuts the potential sugariness of the romance.
Ultimately, if you like something to think about as well as a fun night out then this is the play for you.
-Calum Kerr