Theatre Royal, York – until 31st January 2026
Reviewed by Katie Brewerton
4****
The Royal Shakespeare Company‘s adaption of The Constant Wife comes to York Theatre Royal for one week only and is one not to be missed. Starring the fantastic Kara Tointon, best known for her role as Dawn in over 300 episodes of Eastenders. This version of The Constant Wife has been adapted from W Somerset Maugham’s original play by Olivier award winner Laura Wade to bring the play in to the modern world.
The play opens with Bentley (Philip Rham) the Middleton family butler showing Constance’s (Tointon) mother and sister in to the house. They soon begin arguing about whether or not to tell Constance about her husband’s affair with her best friend Marie-Louise. Constance’s sister Martha (Amy Vicary-Smith) is determined to tell Constance the truth, so she can confront her husband, but her old fashioned mother (at this performance played by understudy Jane Lambert) is determined Constance doesn’t find out. It’s just part of a marriage and men are not expected to be monogamous.
After a confrontation involving Marie-Louise’s husband Mortimer (Jules Brown) the inevitable showdown occurs between Constance, husband John (Tim Delap) and Marie-Louise (Gloria Onitiri), with Constance having to decide whether to forgive the betrayal of those closest to her, ask for a divorce or plot her own method of revenge. Poor Bernard Kersal (Alex Mugnaioni) is also a witness to the drama, having arrived to take Constance to the theatre at precisely the wrong time, although could this be his opportunity to finally win Constance’s affection for himself after years of pining.
The set is cleverly designed, with a mesh backdrop revealing stairs to give the illusion of a large house behind the scenes, set only in one room small alterations are made for flashback scenes.
A great job is done of making it easy and clear for the audience to follow along and understand who’s who and what’s going on, with a recap written in to the story at the beginning of the second act to make sure everyone is up to speed.
The Constant Wife is funny, set in the 1920s it is still able to resonate today and is a joyous and upbeat night out despite the themes of infidelity and betrayal. Kara Tointon gives a standout 5 start performance and is wonderful as are the rest of the cast, delivering their lines and creating a dramatic environment with ease.
If you get the chance this feel good play is one not to be missed and is great for women’s empowerment, showing being around for a few more years doesn’t make you more knowledgeable in matters of the heart.