Royal Theatre, Windsor – until 4 February 2023
Reviewed by Joanna Huggett
5*****
It was a pleasure to go and watch opening night of ‘Home I’m Darling’ written by Laura Wade, an intriguing comedy about a couple’s choice to play out the wife’s fantasy as the 1950s housewife while surrounded by the 21st century world outside.
The play is set in their Welwyn Garden City house, complete with retro décor of formica worktops and kitchen table, bold wallpapers, a ‘tube’ tv with spindly legs and, as if to bring the furnishings up to date, a cocktail bar.
Judy, played by Jessica Ransom, dutifully prepares breakfast for her bread-winner husband Johnny, Neil McDermott, before he leaves for work. A brief encounter which only serves to demonstrate Judy’s subservient role, cooking, cleaning, serving, and yet the two of them exclaiming how ‘awfully sickeningly happy’ they are.
However, piece by piece, the fantasy 1950s lifestyle begins to unravel. Fran, played by Cassie Bradley, reveals seeing Johnny and another women dining on a 20th century pizza. Marcus, Fran’s husband played by Matthew Douglas, finds his over-tactile manner gets him into trouble at work, crying ‘you can’t do anything these days’, and Johnny’s career path as the sole income provider comes off the rails when he gets a new boss, Alex played by Shanez Pattni, a women of all things. The world outside is certainly not conforming to the 1950’s fantasy, nor was the 1950’s as romantic as they imagined, so eloquently put by Judy’s mum Sylvia, played by Diane Keen, with the notion ‘Nostalgia ain’t what it used to be’.
A disturbingly accurate set, a wonderful cast, some good laughs and occasionally a thought-provoking stereotype that you will be discussing well into the following day. An altogether enjoyable evening in Windsor – highly recommended.