When we are Married

‘When We Are Married’. This charming 1938 English comedy-drama, written by English playwright J.B. Priestly, was the first theatre play script ever to be televised unedited. Sir Ian McKellen, who has acted in this dramatic piece, endorses - ‘J. B. Priestley’s north country comedy was perfect for our permanent company, with substantial showy parts for everyone’. This updated revival is being presented by the Marloo Theatre, Marloo Road, Greenmount nightly at 8.00 pm until Saturday 30^th April, with a Sunday matinee on 17^th at 2.00 pm.

 

        It is the mid 1930s and in a West Yorkshire manor house, a ‘Yorkshire Argus’ news reporter (David Bain) and his inept drunken photographer (Ray Egan) have arrived. They are shown into the parlour by Tweeny Ruby Birtle (Taylor Bartels). The reporter has been called in because Alderman Joe Helliwell (Richard Milner) and his wife Maria (Jacqui Warner) are hosting a get together to celebrate three mutual, silver wedding anniversaries. They are joined by the other two couples, the miserable, self-important, tight-fisted Councillor Albert (Alan Morris) and timid wife, charming Annie Parker (Janice Nind), along with the insipid Herbert (Michael Hart) and his omnipotent wife, Clara Soppitt (Lynne Devenish). All three having been married on the same day and at the same church. 

       Before the celebrations start the church organist, Gerald (Alex Sutton) has been summoned to the manor to be reprimanded for his poor performance, but he is not worried in the slightest, as this gives him a chance to meet the girl of his dreams, Nancy (Natalie Watson) the Halliwell’s niece. Besides he has discovered something that will rock the household.

       Things are going smoothly until the prying cook, Mrs Northrop (Amanda Minutillo) spreads some overheard gossip. Once a scarlet woman, Lottie Grady (Siobhan Vincent) appears from someone’s past sparks really fly.

        When the present minister, the Reverend Clement Mercer (Bill Nind) arrives to bless the couples unions, he finds the household in disarray, with the couples on the verge of becoming social pariahs.

 

Despite the storyline showing a bit of age, Priestly has a wonderful command of English and his script is rich with puns, bighting lines and light hearted quips. His wonderfully lively and complex characters, all beautifully portrayed, keep this play still fresh and pertinent. The personalities and their moral fibre are acted out wonderfully. The very good accents were consistent and the comedic delivery excellent.

The opulent set (Ray Egan and Michael Hart) is stunning; with the finishing touches by Adrian Ashman and Lesley Sutton it had the genuine air of a luxurious manor home. Being in Yorkshire, it even had the obligatory ‘biggest aspidistra in the world’. The even, warm lighting over the room was perfect, well done Michael Hart and Brendan Tobin. The costumes were well above average, but sorry no credit given in programme.

Director, Fred Petersen, had the nightmare that all directors dread, at the last minute the actor of a key character had to go into hospital for a major operation (good luck Bernie), but Richard Milner – with only a third of the rehearsals left to go - bravely stepped in. He has done a brilliant job.

This is a comedy play, not a farce and no slapstick, just a very well presented fun show with lots of laughs.