Orange Tree Theatre – until 17th June 2023
Reviewed by Ben Jolly
2**
Somerset Maugham’s ‘The Circle’ made its debut in 1921 at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket and one hundred years later the theatre was home to ‘Only Fools & Horses – The Musical’, quite the contrast indeed! This comedic play is set in a post WWI era at a country house in Dorset and deals with the trials and tribulations of relationships, sex, family and love in the upper class universe fresh in the aftermath of a world at war. As with most Maugham, this piece is light and frivolous on the surface but riddled with sub-text and forcing the audience to challenge their perceptions of society.
This production of The Circle started with high energy right from the get-go, however after the first scene it was clear that our cast had shot themselves in the foot as they had nothing to build on, and nowhere to go, unfortunately the rest of the play felt like it was flatlining.
Jane Asher as Lady Catherine-Champion-Cheney gives a strong, fierce performance but we needed more dynamics, more theatricality, (basically, I’m saying she needed to be camp as hell) – especially in Act 1, this would have made the more vulnerable and softer side shown to us later in the play all the more engaging.
While strategically designed by Louie Whitemore, I don’t feel that this play is the perfect fit for the lovely in-the-round space at the Orange Tree Theatre. A lot of block staging and speeches delivered in stagnant poise prevent the piece from moving swiftly and instead felt like treading through mud. Director Tom Littler has made good attempts with the struggles that an in-the-round space can present with a play like this, but I still don’t think it works for this style of play.
There are some lovely performances from the rest of the cast, each bringing something unique and honest to the performance. Clive Francis as the mischievous Clive Champion-Cheney commands the stage with ease and charm.
Quite the controversial show when it debuted to audiences in shock and boo-ing over its then controversial ending, I can’t help but think that this play hasn’t aged quite as well as the creative team might have hoped. I am however, excited to see what Littler has next up his sleeve for his tenure at the Orange Tree!