We round up the reviews for Nicholai La Barrie’s production of Oscar Wilde’s classic play.
The Guardian: **** “It seems to take its lead from the National Theatre’s campy production of The Importance of Being Earnest, in which Lady Bracknell sported a West Indian inflected accent. The Caribbean twist is much more pronounced here, as is the campness.”
WhatsOnStage: *** “Still, this is a stylish, thoughtful and often very enjoyable revival. It may not always be as sharp as Wilde’s best epigrams, but when it works, it has real flair. Like any ideal husband, it is charming, well-dressed, occasionally exhausting, and probably worth seeing again.”
The Reviews Hub: **** “The play’s all-Black casting brings an extra depth to the excavations of power and privilege. For director La Barrie, the play explores “the contradictions that define us: love and betrayal, politics and family, forgiveness and redemption, morality and greed,” observing that: “A century after it was written, these themes feel as urgent as ever.””
Theatre & Tonic: **** “Overall this is a fantastic new revival of An Ideal Husband and truly brings the intrigue of the Victorian scandal to brilliant life on stage. Although not perfect, the spirit of Wilde and the joy in exploring scandal is polished as beautifully as any beloved writer character can be. If you enjoy hilarious satire, witty banter, are in the mood for a fantastic satirical comedy or wish to see a wonderful cast on stage then this is the show for you.”
London Theatre.co.uk: **** “La Barrie is respectful to Wilde’s vision of wit infused with tension, if leaning more towards the comedic mockery within the play than some other productions. References to Obama and Beyoncé nod to pop culture, and it’s lovely to hear many of Wilde’s words spoken with the warmth of a West Indian accent. You cannot help feeling Wilde would be delighted with this very modern puncturing of the balloon of political pomposity.”
A Young(ish) Perspective: *** “Slight script modifications are made to make modern-day references to Beyonce, Hello! Magazine and various colloquial terms. Although these always receive laughs, so many of the classic lines of Wilde do not. With his plays always set in ‘The Present’, re-imaginings such as these make perfect sense, but without understanding of the original text, they risk falling flat.”
The Stage: **** “Astute production of Wilde’s greatest play reinforces his continuing relevance.”
London Theatre 1: **** “The power dynamics are intriguing, with Mrs Cheveley (a distinctly non-hammy Aurora Perrineau, perhaps deliberately contrasting with the flamboyancy of some other characters) potentially with the ability to destroy Sir Robert and Lady Chiltern’s reputations with the information she has about some backroom deal conducted some years ago. The impossibility of expectations placed on women is laid bare by way of Sir Robert turning the tables on his wife despite her determined efforts to support him. I found the pacing quite perfect in this dynamic and pinpointedly sharp production.”
Time Out: *** “More generally, the play gets lost beneath this production’s dazzle, pumping soundtrack and tendency to over-indulge some supporting turns. Its mishmash of past and present inspirations shakes off the tale’s drawing-room dust, but too often overpowers its centre: Wilde’s quippy but fundamentally sincere exploration of the impossibility of meeting public expectations, which feels just as relevant today.”
All That Dazzles: **** “An Ideal Husband is at its strongest when Jamael Westman as Viscount Goring is on stage; he confidently steals every scene with a charismatic presence and an effortless command of Wilde’s dialogue.”
North West End: *** “Overall, this is an enjoyable and stylish adaptation, with strong performances and particularly impressive costume design. While it may not fully explore the darker themes of scandal and corruption as deeply as it could, it still succeeds in delivering an entertaining evening filled with humour, elegance, and modern flair.”
An Ideal Husband continues to play at the Lyric Hammersmith until the 6th June.