The Chalk Garden

Synopsis

First presented in the 1950's this intriguing play examines the nature of the mother/daughter relationship. At the heart of the play is a garden, which becomes a metaphor for the increase of self awareness of all the characters. As the barriers between the characters come down the garden flourishes.

Our Review:

12 June 2008

Hands up those who still believe that the West End in the 1950s was home to self-consciously cosy middle class dramas until the disgruntled Angry Young Men turfed them out. Well put them down.

Just weeks before John Osborne’s Look Back in Anger premiered at the Royal Court in 1956, Enid Bagnold’s The Chalk Garden opened at the Theatre Royal Haymarket and although Fifties New Wave fury was never Bagnold’s style (her most popular work had been the girl-loves-horse novel National Velvet), this cracking Donmar revival of her neglected stage masterpiece is a reminder that there always was challenging dramatic life beyond the kitchen sink boys, even when the action takes place in a middle-class drawing room dominated by a disturbed young woman.

At the time, Kenneth Tynan recognised “the finest artificial comedy to have flowed from an English pen… since the death of Congreve”. And today it’s quite startling to discover ...

Read more of the review

Latest User Review

rds - 19 July 2008:

I can't disagree with anything here. This was one of those productions I shall recall when I have forgotten the name of the bloody prime minster! I have a particular love for Penelope Wilton whom I think is the finest actress to grace the stage today. Forget all those Dames, Ms Wilton takes the buscuit! Margaret Tyzack, too, is a tour de force. The rest of the company perfectly compliment these stellar leads. Michael Grandage has directed it all to perfection. It is the production of the year so far and I would not be surprised if it doesn't clean up at the Olivier's. One thing stands out though, if a small but,not undistinguished, house like the Donamr is producing Enid Bagnold and so brilliantly why is our beloved NT turning out such dreadful productions as The Revenger's Tragedy? Maybe it's because the NT's artistic director has lost the plot? Anyway, answers on a postcard please to... Apart from that if you get a chance to see this superb production it will, I guarantee it, be the best thing you have seen all year -and that's a promise....

Read more and add your own review

Related Whatsonstage.com Articles

Review Round-up: Donmar Chalk Garden Blooms More»