When We Are Married at the Garrick Theatre, London

When We Are Married at the Garrick Theatre, London

For those of who who are not familiar with J.B.Priestleys classic, the premise is that the lead characters find out that after 25 years of marriage that the weddings had never been officially sanctioned, In other words, they were not married at all, and the consequences of this revelation are far reaching.

Nowadays such a discovery might not mean so much , but back in the era when this play was set, such a matter could well have been a public scandal of monumental proportions, opening the way to a great deal of public derision and humiliation.

Three couples who were married on the same day, at the same church are celebrating twenty-five years of marriage. The couples have positions in society and a public image to maintain. The husbands are leading members of the local non-conformist chapel and two them have seats on the local council. The celebrations seem to be going well until the husbands make the shocking discovery that the minister who married them did not have the appropriate legal qualifications and therefore their marriage licenses are null and void. Given their standing in the local community, the couples initially want to keep the whole business hushed-up. But as events unfold, some of the individuals involved see a chance to escape from relationships that have been somewhat less than true marital bliss.

This fine cast make the most of the brilliant script - . Maureen Lipman as Clara Soppitt employs her exceptional comic timing to great effect as her mousey husband (Sam Kelly) suddenly finds his voice and exerts his authority. Simon Rouse's bombastic Councillor Parker has to rethink his marital stance as his initially meek wife Annie (Michele Dotrice) bluntly tells him that he's not only "pompous, dull and stingy" but also "very, very dreary". And David Horovitch's Alderman Helliwell finds his temper strained as his better half Maria (played by Susie Blake) threatens to leave him and the drudgery she endures in being a housewife.

There's also excellent support from Jodie McNee as the chirpy maid, Lynda Baron as the cook/ housekeeper who listens at keyholes and treats her employers with blatant contempt; and Roy Hudd is photographer Henry Ormonroyd who has more interest in drinkling than photography.

All in all this is an excellent version of a classic tale and well worth a watch.

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