Tickets were gifted in return for an honest review
In a splendid reimagining of W. Somerset Maugham’s sharp-witted comedy, The Constant Wife, Royal Shakespeare Company Co-Artistic Director Tamara Harvey and acclaimed playwright Laura Wade have once again joined forces to deliver a brilliant theatrical experience. This new version of Somerset Maugham's play brings an invigorating freshness to a classic narrative, complemented by a score of original music by multi-award-winning jazz artist Jamie Cullum.
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| Rose Leslie as Constance Middleton. Photo by Johan Persson |
At the heart of the story is Constance Middleton, portrayed with grace and tenacity by the talented Rose Leslie. Constance embodies the modern woman of the 1920s—elegant, intelligent, and unwilling to accept the limitations imposed by society. Surrounded by the comforts of life, she soon finds her world shaken when she discovers her husband's affair with her best friend. As societal expectations weigh heavily upon her, Constance emerges as a force of nature, challenging the status quo with her bold choices, which means she wrestles back control of her life and the situation.
Leslie is a magnificent, magnetic presence throughout. She impressively navigates the emotions required and manages to journey that Constance goes through with believable skill. Leslie is surrounded by an impressive company. Kate Burton is a delight as Mrs Culver, mother to Constance and Martha (Amy Morgan). Emma McDonald is sultry and seductive as Marie-Louise Durham, although the morals of the character are a little off, undoubtedly McDonald draws you in.
Luke Norris does a superb job as John Middleton. He really shines in the second half, in fac,t the whole piece is much slicker after the interval. Norris does a fine job balancing the emotion,s especially once Constance regains the upper hand in the relationship again. Raj Bajaj is a really warm presence as Bernard Kersal.
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| Emma McDonald as Marie-Louise Durham and Luke Norris as John Middleton. Photo by Johan Persson. |
Mark Meadows almost steals the entire show as Bentley, the butler to Constance and John. He has a real twinkle in his eye and delivers the role with great aplomb. He is a treat to watch in this role.
The production brilliantly explores themes of independence and empowerment, inviting audiences to reflect on the role of women in both past and contemporary society. Harvey’s direction, combined with Wade’s insightful dialogue, creates a lively and thought-provoking atmosphere where humour intertwines with moments of poignant clarity. There's plenty of big laughs as well as moments to pause and think.
With an exquisite set and costume design by Anna Fleischle that captures the essence of the 1920s and a cast that brings depth to each character, this adaptation is a testament to the timeless nature of Maugham’s work. The Constant Wife is not just a play; it is an exploration of resilience and the courage to break free from societal confines. A largely all female creative team clearly understand the themes and tones present in the play and Wade does a great job of not making this too preachy but certainly gets the message across.
This delightful and sparkling production promises to resonate with everyone who has ever felt the tension between personal desires and societal demands. You leave the theatre thinking about what you would do if you found yourself in a situation like Constance's and how you would navigate everything.
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| Mark Meadows as Bentley. Photo by Johan Persson. |
The RSC's timely new production really hits full steam after the interval. Maybe it's a play that makes you look at your relationships with your nearest and dearest, too. It's a thoroughly classy piece delivered with sizzling skill.
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The Constant Wife plays in The Swan Theatre at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-Upon-Avon until Saturday 2nd August 2025. Tickets are available from https://www.rsc.org.uk/
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