He's Much to Blame

Synopsis

A gem of Georgian comedy. Indecisive Lord Vibrate and his flighty wife encounter roguish Sir George Versatile and earnest Mr Delavel, vying for the hand of their beautiful daughter Jane. Disguises, hidden secrets, incompetent doctors and all sorts of other complications follow in this entertaining and enjoyable play.

Our Review:

Anne Morley-Priestman - 7 September 2009

The Restoring the Repertoire programme at the Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds has been worth the effort of mining neglected Georgian and early Victorian plays. The latest gem to be unearthed is He's Much to Blame by Thomas Holccroft, himself surely a worthy subject for drama. It was first staged at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden in 1798.

Holcroft was a radical writer and publisher at a time – the aftermath of the American revolution and the bitter conflict with revolutionary France – when such pursuits were liable to prosecution for treason, crippling fines, long periods of imprisonment and even the death penalty. This comedy has a satirical bite which lifts it from the apparently standard plot lines of thwarted young love and mercenary elderly interference.

Libby Watson's set emphasise this. We're in a London hotel where the Vibrate family is in temporary abode. Across the width of the stage is a folding screen decorated with satirical prints of the perio...

Read more of the review

Latest User Review

Ruth - 12 September 2009:

Loved this play. Audience roared at some very funny scenes. Loved the dramatic confrontation of Versatile with Delaval! Highly recommended and deserves to be regularly revived. ...

Read more and add your own review