With former soap stars again dominating the majority of Christmas shows in the Greater Manchester area, Braham Murray’s elegant production of An Ideal Husband offers a wonderful alternative for theatre goers, looking for a more substantial theatrical treat. As with previous productions of Wilde’s plays, An Ideal Husband bears all the hallmarks of Murray’s past successes: skilful handling of the text, exquisite costumes and settings and a first class cast.
Amidst the dazzling dialogue and well known witty epigrams, what surprises most about this production is the very modern manner in which it is acted. The central dilemma of the piece, surrounding the scandalous advancement of an MP’s career, feels in this production more 21st Century than 19th. What is often played as light comedy in this production is given a serious edge with bags of attitude. The performances of the central characters are real, rounded and completely believable.
Simon Robson, as the career politician, Sir Robert Chiltern, leads an accomplished cast of 12. His world literally falls apart when the scheming, Venetian socialite, Mrs Chevely rudely invites herself into his life and threatens the very foundations of his Edwardian sobriety. Joanna Riding, an actress more at home in musical theatre, gives a stunning performance as the flame haired vixen that will stop at nothing to further her own ambitions. The two actors are excellent throughout and create some of the production’s finest dramatic moments. Too often Wilde’s plays are played for comic effect but in these pivotal performances, the hypocrisy of the ruling Edwardian classes has an immediacy which is as fresh and as relevant to an audience today as it was over a hundred years ago. In the programme note, Murray writes, “It’s Christmas and what better time for a play about sexual and political corruption.” In An Ideal Husband, Wilde presents in close up the dangers of obtaining wealth and ambition at any price. With the latest Labour party funding scandal still playing out, Murray’s comments appear to be both timely and well judged.
The Royal Exchange is widely renowned for the quality of its Christmas productions and Braham Murray’s production of An Ideal Husband more than lives up to expectations. His production, aided enormously by Simon Higlett’s marvellous set and an acting ensemble the envy of many West End managements, delivers a truly memorable night of theatre in which the audience are asked to consider their motivations, as much as those of the main protagonists on stage. At the time of year when the interests of adults can easily be sidelined An Ideal Husband is gown up theatre at its very best.
An Ideal Husband runs until 26 January at the Royal Exchange, Manchester.
