• Advertise
  • Request Review
  • Write for Us
  • Privacy
  • Login

Theatre Bubble

The UK Theatre Network

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Reviews
  • News
  • Features
  • Spotlight
  • Opinions
  • Interviews
  • Guides
  • Tickets

How the Other Half Loves at the Duke of York Theatre

July 12, 2016 by Alex Wood Leave a Comment

Review of: How the Other Half Loves
Produced by:
ATG, Bill Kenwright
Price:
From £21.50

Reviewed by: Alex Wood
Rating:
4
On July 12, 2016
Last modified:July 12, 2016

Summary:

How the Other Half Loves is the classic West End staple - a solid night of tickling theatre. For the team involved to see an extended run is much deserved

More Details

The transplanted continuation of the longstanding Alan Ayckbourn play How the Other Half Loves alongside the recent success of Florian Zeller’s The Truth (only 100 metres away) seems to suggest that the West End has developed some sort of small desire to stage shows revolving around infidelity – a destruction of typical domestic circumstances and a dabbling into moral ambiguity and deception. This is certainly Ayckbourn, the now wizened veteran of the typical British dramatic comedy, at his finest – pitching three couples in comparatively different social and economic positions against one another, filling a crucible with an illicit affair and seeing how the next couple of hours plays out. The twist here is the temporal and location distortion – two different scenes that occur either in different places or over different evenings here occur over the top of one another in real-time – we are essentially privy to two different yet conjoined narratives until they all clatter into one satisfying concluding scene.

Like so many of his texts, Ayckbourn’s play has now passed into a state of reverential respectability – a staple of the quintessential British drama. Serial collaborator Alan Strachan’s latest adaptation certainly embodies this trait, pitched as a period piece with all the attentions to detail necessary – newspaper cuttings lovingly stacked and telephones positioned in prime location. A period where a man could casually discipline his wife for her supposed bad behaviour. Strachan gives the show the customary Ayckbourn rhythms and wind-ups, delivering each carefully positioned gag with the necessary poise. The script certainly takes its time to get into the comedic gear, taking a long while to set each character (perhaps too long, and here Strachan may have found a faster pacing more suitable) sacrificing early gags for the sake of clarity and explicitly laying out the play’s form. There’s a subtle experimentalism that must be observed, after all.

how-the-other-half-loves-5

For an Ayckbourn show bridled with orthodoxy, it is the vibrant cast that really ushers in something much more exciting and fun. Nicholas Le Prevost, perhaps the most typical Ayckbourn affluent male imaginable, brings a lovable gusto to proceedings, his ignorance of his wife’s misgivings born more through a cognitive memory issue than simply farcical obliviousness. Yet it is the last character to enter the play that ended up stealing the show – Gillian Wright, most known for her role as Jean Slater on Eastenders, who committed not only to a wonderfully vibrant comedic turn (something not often seen on the TV), but also had a form of inventive and subtle physicality to go alongside it. She was the character we were rooting for throughout – a brilliant turn in every way for a play juggling big personalities.

How the Other Half Loves is the classic West End staple – a solid night of tickling theatre. For the team involved to see an extended run is much deserved, and continuing the notability of such a British institution and showing simply how enduring Ayckbourn will prove to be is certainly a commendable feat.

Author: Alex WoodAlex is the former reviews editor at Theatre Bubble, but since changing position now contributes occasionally. He has been writing reviews for a number of years, as well as seeing his own shows performed. He has produced and marketed a number of performances at venues in London, Oxford, Edinburgh, including the world premiere of Philip Pullman's The Ruby in the Smoke.

Filed Under: Featured, Review

Join the discussion Cancel reply

INTERVIEW / Paul O’Donnell talks about his new show Dia-Beat-Es

This February, performer Paul O’Donnell is premiering his new autobiographical show Dia-Beat-Es. Bringing to the stage his own personal experiences [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Plain Heroines talks SCRATCHES at VAULT Festival 2023

We spoke to director Gabrielle Bird from Plain Heroines about taking part in VAULT Festival 2023 with their show SCRATCHES   Tell us [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Anthony Clark on SHE

Anthony Clark is the writer of SHE, a new show interweaving the stories of 14 different women in their twenties, [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Thick ‘n’ Fast talks General Secretary at VAULT Festival

We spoke to co-writers and performers Cassie Symes and Georgina Thomas about taking part in VAULT Festival 2023 with their [Read More]

NEWS / Too Much World at Once tour announced

Set against a backdrop of the climate crisis, the debut from Papatango shortlisted writer Billie Collins is a lyrical coming [Read More]

Top Posts & Pages

  • Does Small to Mid Scale Theatre Touring Actually Work?
  • Paul O’Donnell talks about his new show Dia-Beat-Es
  • The Design Process of David Farley
  • Writing the Perfect Press Release
  • Alice Christina-Corrigan talks Past Life
  • 10 Tips to Help You Prepare for Your Reality TV Auditions
  • Amit Lahav - Artistic Director of Gecko Theatre
  • Birthday Suit at the Old Red Lion Theatre
  • Is this the real location of Ambridge?
  • Joseph Grimaldi Clown Memorial Service
  • Alex Wood
    Contributor

  • July 12th, 2016
  • comment iconNo Comments
  • Facebook1TweetLinkedInEmail

    Newsletter

    Enjoyed what you've read? Get even more great content directly to your inbox - Completely Free

    About Theatre Bubble

    Theatre Bubble is the news, review and blogging site created by Blue Pie Media and run by a dedicated team of outstanding editors and writers: we're always looking for new contributors - to find out more click here.

    Contact Us

    News: news@theatrebubble.com
    Reviews: reviews@theatrebubble.com
    Website: webmaster@theatrebubble.com

    Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2023 · Blue Pie Media

     

    Loading Comments...
     

      Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

      Email sent!