The Constant Wife
by W. Somerset Maugham
adapted by Laura Wade

review by Louise Cannon

Laura Wade, having created the successful Netflix adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s The Rivals has delightfully adapted W. Somerset Maugham’s The Constant Wife with the RSC. She acutely observes the 1920’s middle class and what is shown is a sophisticated, fast-paced farce that entertains with universal themes from start to finish.

Piano jazz of the 1920’s style, composed by Jamie Cullum fills the room, exquisitely setting the tone for this comedy of manners, The Constant Wife. There’s a bit of his music at certain key moments. The music is beautifully complex, it’s romantic, entrancing with a sense of something foreboding.

Kara Tointon plays the role of Constance Middleton, aka ‘The Constant Wife’. She eats and sleeps well and is losing weight. Her mother, based on this, reckons no one can be unhappy with that happening.

Played by Sara Crowe, Mrs Culver is very particular about her views and is of a certain era that is different from the one her daughter is living in, but also says It brings some humour to societal differences, including when Constance wants to go to work. She brings wit and also some empathy.

A deep subject, central to the plot, is that Constance’s husband is having an affair, but instead of leaving him, she chooses to remain with him. Now, this isn’t as frustrating nor as depressing as it sounds, not with quick-witted lines that has the laughter continuously pouring from the audience as a certain set of circumstances happen as everyone wants, but for various interruptions, can’t tell her what they know.
What occurs next is uniquely, devilishly clever and the mark of a rather intelligent, strong-willed woman. The way she carries herself, examining her psychologically, is fascinating to watch unfold and there’s a part where she actually appears to use her butler, Bentley, almost like a counsellor or confidant as she works out her plan of action. Philip Rham plays him with a gentleness and with wry humour.

Kara Tointon plays Constance Middleton with aplomb! She has made the character, convincingly her own. She brings sympathy, empathy and an urge to cheer Constance on. The strength of character oozes beyond the stage, tugging at heartstrings, excellent comic timing and a sense of a woman who knows where she’s headed, even under such challenging circumstances.

Tim Delap plays John Middleton, a surgeon and husband to Constance plays the part of infidelity convincingly. Even though the infidelity is obviously terrible, he draws you into his world and the double life he’s leading.

The understudies/swings were fantastic, they were Jules Brown played Bernard and Sam Flint played Mortimer.

Marie Louise Durham played by Gloria Onitiri plays the character with seduction as she dances and also with a surprising vulnerability but not forgetting that she wants to save herself, which is a big motive in everything she does. There’s an especially desperate moment to save her friendship shows when, quite dramatically, she ends up on the floor.

The Constant Wife is a farce that manages to combine hilarity with the deepness of human life and emotions. The skilful writing coupled with a wide range of acting skills makes it highly entertaining and engaging from start to finish.

Find tickets here for Richmond Theatre, London

*Thank you to ATG Richmond Theatre for the invite to review and ticket.
** Please note that all opinions are my own and I’m not affiliated to any company.