What Every Woman Knows – Finborough Theatre, London

Writer: J.M. Barrie

Director: Louise Hill

Reviewer: Deborah Klayman

The Public Reviews Rating:

There are two things that make going to the theatre a truly delightful experience: firstly the opportunity to see a play that is new (or new to you) which is brilliantly written, and secondly to see it performed by a superb cast. This revival production of J.M Barrie’s What Every Woman Knows offers both in abundance, and is also well directed, costumed and staged.

Concerned for Maggie, who despite being witty and intelligent is too plain to find a husband, her family strike a bargain with penniless student John Shand that he will marry her after five years in exchange for their funding his education. The play spans an eight-year period during which time John becomes a successful MP, unaware that his wife is contributing to his success behind the scenes.

Strong performances came from the Wylie family in the opening act with Peter Yapp as Maggie’s loving, sympathetic father, and Scott McFarlan and Jack Tarlton as her well-intentioned brothers. The first scene is ostensibly written in Scots dialect, and this was not shied away from or apologised for, and set up the contrast with the world that Maggie and John find themselves later in the play.

The central role of Maggie is an extremely important one, and is played to a tee by Madeleine Worrall. Despite being painfully aware of her romantic limitations, Maggie never appears weak or pitiful; rather Worrall exudes inner strength and dignity, even in the brief moments where Maggie’s torment spills out for the audience to see. She also has an excellent rapport with Gareth Glen (Shand) and Carmen Rodriguez (Comtesse), with whom she has the most moving and hilarious scenes in the play.

Glen’s Shand is a strangely sympathetic character, strange because John is arrogant, blunt and tactless and yet manages not to alienate those watching. Often the straight man to every joke, Glen is truly dedicated to his role, playing the character truthfully as he is, without comment on his behaviour. In contrast Rodriguez is hilarious as the inimitable Comtesse de la Briѐre, hitting every comic moment and line with expert timing and to maximum effect.

There were very few downsides to this production, but the third act did stall on the entrance of Alistair Findlay (Venables) as he unfortunately struggled with his lines, interrupting flow and pace of the show. He was redeemed in the final act, however, eliciting many laughs from his final exchange with the Shands and Comtesse.

Addressing issues of women’s suffrage and their ‘place’ in Victorian society, Barrie’s play was ahead of its time and is written with both humour and political nous. A must see production for all those with a love of theatre and robust sense of humour.

Runs until 2nd August