An Ideal Husband

Not a word is wasted in this witty Oscar Wilde play. Everything said has a place or meaning and Nigel Munro-Wallis has cut the script down to deliver more entertainment without affecting the overall gist.

 New Farm Nash TheatreMerthyr Rd Uniting Church, New Farm QLD Friday, 16 July, 2010

Not a word is wasted in this witty Oscar Wilde play. Everything said has a place or meaning and Nigel Munro-Wallis has cut the script down to deliver more entertainment without affecting the overall gist. This is the second time I’ve seen An Ideal Husband and I noticed more nuances in the text than the first time around. But it wasn’t just the second viewing that helped me gain a better understanding; it was the thorough delivery of the highly-developed central characters. There were some lulls in parts when conversations shed more light on the sign of the times than the story itself, but with cut-backs already in place you accept it as “setting the scene”.  While it may be hard to relate to the 19th century way of life in this 1895 play, many of the themes about political life and the way men and women interact ring true of today. Wilde’s words are very wise and show his thorough understanding of relationships and the standards people set for their partners. Listen carefully to the script and read between the lines, and you’ll gain a lot more from this play than just laughs and entertainment. When the seductive Mrs Cheveley arrives at a party hosted by Lady Chiltern in London, politician, Sir Robert Chiltern, has his life turned upside down. He’s always been a good man, except for one secret political indiscretion. Mrs Cheveley threatens to expose his hidden past unless he obeys her unjust demands. But the clichéd blackmail story isn’t the highlight that makes this play so wonderful. Predominantly, it’s Lord Goring’s sharp humour and carefree outlook on life that sometimes makes no sense at all, then at others shows wisdom beyond his years. Peter Crees did an outstanding job of Lord Goring – Sir Robert Chiltern’s long-time friend. He was smooth, charming, insightful and playful, and his interaction with all the characters was delightful. While he was absorbed with vanity, he still delivered a masculinity that was the kind to sweep Mabel Chiltern off her feet, and be there for Lady Chiltern when in need. This wonderful character is backed up by beautiful language and perception. And although it isn’t his relationship with any one person that stands out, it’s his opinions and contributions to the Chiltern couple that is of real substance. June A Balfour was a surprising choice for the temptress Mrs Cheveley, but it worked well. Voluptuous and adorned in jewels, she was confident on stage with the strong presence you imagine the bold Mrs Cheveley to have. However, her flirtations were a little cringe-worthy at times, particularly with Lord Goring.  Paula Chiverall and John Ashton were a great match for the central couple Lady and Sir Robert Chiltern. She was the “great woman behind every great man” and together they displayed a connection that reflected truths about relationships across all eras.  Set design by Harry Millner was simple yet classy and provided the ideal scenery for the wealthy homes in which the action took place. Costumes were well made and colour schemes worked effectively with splashes of bright red, blue and pink against the plainer backdrop. I was really impressed by the play’s awareness and I think Nigel-Munro Wallis and the Nash team have brought that to the fore as well as providing quality entertainment.  An Ideal Husband is showing until the 31 July 2010 Bookings on (07) 3379 4775.