The Circle

Published Monday 4 August 2008 at 11:55 by Mike Sell

In this new production of The Circle, Jonathan Church has brought out the true comedy of the piece, with a cast with superb diction and wearing exactly the right clothes. Maugham was an acute observer of humanity and although this play was written in 1919, human nature has changed little and the moral and behavioural attitudes upon which he comments are relevant today. The comedy is developed not only through the inter-relationships but also in the witty, sometimes cutting, dialogue, which was delivered with great pace and accuracy.

MP Arnold Champion-Cheney has a life which is as well ordered as his home, a stunning country house drawing room design by Simon Higlett, and is so egocentric that he does not realise that his wife, Elizabeth, is about to embark upon an affair. This is deja vu as his mother, Kitty, had left his MP father for another politician, Lord Porteous, 30 years before. Now rather jaded, Kitty tries hard to appear young with beauty accessories and extravagant gestures. This is a supreme performance by Susan Hampshire. Her deserted husband sets out to enjoy himself by embarrassing her - David Yelland is the consummate tease and wit, full of social graces. Philip Voss as the irascible Lord Porteous communicates his dislike of almost everything, from behaviour at the bridge table to his false teeth, through a superb repertoire of facial expressions and vocal nuances.

Charity Wakefield plays the bored and unfulfilled Elizabeth and Richard Lintern her boorish husband. Bertie Carvel made a ripping third party in an admirable cast. An evening of extremely enjoyable theatre which was correct in every detail.