Review: When we are married by J.B.Priestley at Stoke Repertory Theatre*

‘When we are married’ by J.B. Priestley – whose name you may recognise as the playwright who created ‘An Inspector Calls’ – is billed as a wonderful farce, and is currently being performed at Stoke Repertory Theatre by the theatre’s own Players.

Set in 1908, ‘When we are married’ is a witty examination of both the institution of marriage and the Edwardian class system. The story takes place in the home of Alderman Joseph Helliwell, in Clecklewyke in the West Riding of Yorkshire. It centres on three middle-class couples, all of whom were married on the same day in the same chapel and are celebrating their silver wedding anniversary together. Keen to promote himself and his friends as happy, stable pillars of the community, Alderman Helliwell invites a newspaper journalist and photographer from the ‘Yorkshire Argus’ to the celebrations, to share the stories of their married lives and re-create a wedding photograph. Before they can do this, however, news about the wedding is shared which rocks the three couples and the cast of characters and causes chaos. If you’d like to know more about the plot, see our preview here, but I think this play is best enjoyed without too much information about what will unfold in the two hours of the play.

When we entered the theatre, the stage was wonderfully set as an elegant Edwardian drawing-room. The whole play took place in this one setting, which was full of detail and used to its best advantage. Small additions and changes were made during the scenes and the whole household was cleverly ‘created’ by the use of sound in areas of the stage and the inclusion of a hallway at the back of the room. This setting helped to display the hierarchy amongst the characters. The middle-class Helliwells and their friends used the drawing-room and disappeared to private, unseen rooms upstairs and a garden, while the staff only visited the drawing-room during their duties and otherwise bustled around the hallway or kitchen. Excellent costumes and attention to detail in the characters’ body language and interactions with one another all highlighted the similarities and differences across the social boundaries of the time.

As the story centres around the relationships between the three couples, the visitors to the house and the unseen members of the community, this is a character and dialogue-driven play, without the slapstick and physical elements of some farce.

This meant it was crucial that the fourteen characters living in, or visiting, the Helliwell household were perfectly cast – which was achieved wonderfully. Each Player seemed totally suited to their role, which is a credit to their acting skills. As was fitting to the status of each during the Edwardian era, we saw Alderman Helliwell attempt to keep calm in the chaos; Councillor Parker keen to save face in the community and the opinionated housekeeper, Mrs Northrop, revelling in the chance to gossip about the chaos at the ‘big house’ and remind the middle-class couples that money and morals don’t always go hand in hand.

However, for me, Richard Morrey stole the show as Henry Ormonroyd, the ‘bit tipsy’ photographer from the ‘Yorkshire Argus’ newspaper. Having visited a local pub before calling at the Helliwell house to re-create their wedding photograph, Henry weaved and bobbed around the drawing-room. He alternated between moments of clear humour and emotion and spells of forgetfulness and nostalgia – brought on by the ale and port. It would have been easy for Richard Morrey to turn this character into a stereotypical working-class drunk, but much more sensitivity was shown here. I felt Henry Ormonroyd remained a fully formed, likeable character throughout and was at the centre of the play’s best moments.

Director Ann McArdle says that J.B. Priestley is a favourite of hers, and I think this showed throughout the whole performance of ‘When we are married’. As it was billed as a farce, I was concerned that the play might alienate me by being too ridiculous and unrelatable. However, the drama was warm-hearted, had a light touch with moments of real humour, but was serious when necessary. I felt that the whole production was really in tune with Priestley’s social commentary on Edwardian times, but that the Players were able to make the story relevant, and entertaining, for a contemporary audience. Having really enjoyed the performance, I would not hesitate to attend another of the Stoke Rep Players productions and encourage you to join their audience.

Cast
Miranda Gresty – Ruby Birtles
James King – Gerald Forbes
Gina Brian – Mrs. Northrop
Holly Sanders – Nancy Holmes
Philip Millward – Fred Dyson
Richard Morrey – Henry Ormonroyd
Howard Goodall – Alderman Joseph Helliwell
Sue Thompson – Maria Helliwell
Mike Johnson – Councillor Albert Parker
Chris Lockett – Annie Parker
Simon Bland – Mr. Albert Soppitt
Rosemary Gresty – Clara Soppitt
Dawn Huxley – Lottie Grady
Brian Rawlins – Rev. Clement Mercer

Director – Ann McArdle
Assistant Director – Nicola Chirnside

When is ‘When we are married’ being performed?

7.30pm nightly, from Tuesday 10th to Saturday 14th December 2019, with an additional matinee performance at 2.30pm on Saturday 14th December 2019.

How much do the tickets cost and how do I book?

Tickets range from between £8.50 (for students) to £12 (for adults).
Tickets can be booked by contacting the theatre on 01782 209784 between 5pm and 8pm during the performance week or by visiting their website here.

Where is Stoke Repertory Theatre?

Stoke Repertory Theatre
Leek Road
Stoke-on-Trent
ST4 2TR

Things to note

• Free parking is available at Stoke Repertory Theatre
• Free additional parking is available 7-10.30pm at Quantum House – please see here for details.
• Due to changes to parking charges, Theatre visitors are currently advised not to use the nearby University Parking.

About Stoke Repertory Theatre

The Players company dates back to 1920, when a group of young people interested in amateur theatre came together to put on a play to raise money for charity. By 1923 they had begun to call themselves The Stoke-on-Trent Repertory Players.

In 1933, the Players found a home in the church hall for the parish of St. Jude in Beresford Street, Shelton. The Rep bought the property outright in the early 1970’s and the company remained at this venue until the autumn of 1997. By November of this year, the search for a new home had resulted in the creation of today’s purpose built venue, which is operated and staffed by volunteers, receives no annual funding or grants but currently has an almost full programme until Summer 2020.

Review by : Sharon Corbally

You may also want to read this:

Review: Curtains, A Musical Whodunnit at The Regent Theatre

Review: Nigel Slater’s Toast at Crewe Lyceum Theatre in Cheshire

Review: Matthew Bourne’s The Red Shoes at The Lowry in Salford, Manchester

Photo Credit :  Stoke Repertory Theatre

* We were provided with press tickets in exchange for a review. All opinions are our own.