On Approval

Synopsis

Spoiled, rich widow Maria Wislake decides to test the suitability of a potential husband, the likeable Richard Halton, by taking him away for a month to her Scottish Estate 'On Approval'. They are pursued by Richard's impoverished and conceited friend George, the Duke of Bristol, who has to leave town to avoid his creditors, and George's youthful and wealthy admirer Helen Hayle. But when bad weather sets in, the staff abandon them and the brandy and cigars run out, the four of them are trapped in the house with only each other for company. Described by critics on its debut in 1927 as ' butterfly of a play', Frederick Lonsdale's delicious comedy of manners, filled with wonderfully bitchy characters and cracking one-liners is a rarely performed classic from one of the twentieth century's forgotten playwrights.

Our Review:

Michael Coveney - 15 April 2013

New Jermyn Street artistic director Anthony Biggs does at least do us one big favour in his stilted revival of Frederick Lonsdale's 1927 comedy: he allows us to see how very unfunny it is without the essential dressing of sharp, stylish "personality" acting.

Whereas Noël Coward re-cast snobbery, hedonism and spoilt behaviour in the armoury of smart language, bravura wit and brilliant construction, Lonsdale exposes the footling exchanges between a penniless duke, his self-effacing chum, their society hostess and a merry widow, Maria Wislake, as a glum, plodding quadrille initiated in London after dinner and concluded in Scotland in a snow drift.

The dominant Maria, rich and middle-aged, is played by Sara Crowe with optimistic grandeur, as though occupying a large hall echoing with hollow laughter. Nothing she says is amusing, but nobody told her that. She's at daggers drawn with the Duke of Bristol, whom Peter Sandys Clarke plays with a silken draw...

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Latest User Review

Adele Winston - 17 April 2013:

The last Lonsdale I remember seeing was Michael Denison, Dulcie Grey & Eunice Gayson in 'Let Them Eat Cake'. Unlike Mr Coveney I enjoy this genre. The acting was faultless - it is always a treat to see Sarah Crowe, especially, and Daniel Hill is scarcely to be blamed if the part requires a touch of the style for which Richard Briers was noted. Last Friday the theatre was packed with an audience that loved the show. Shame on Mr Coveney, who one feels must have been in a very bad mood not to have liked it too. ...

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