British drawing room comedies are a delicacy, like champagne and dark chocolate. For those who have acquired a taste for them, they are irresistible. (Those who haven’t would probably prefer to kick back with a cold beer and a “Three Stooges” flick.)
For fans of the genre, Olney Theatre Center’s revival of W. Somerset Maugham’s 1927 comedy of manners “The Constant Wife” is just what the doctor ordered. The script is a prime example of how well-structured the plays of this period were. (Fortunately, director John Going, bucking the modern trend of having only one intermission, has retained the original three-act format.)
Act 1: The Setup. Successful doctor John Middleton (Michael McKenzie) is having an extramarital affair with Mary-Louise Durham (Ashley West), the best friend of his wife, Constance (Julie-Ann Elliott). Constance’s family and friends know all about it and can’t agree whether to tell her or keep her in a state of blissful ignorance.
Act 2: The Complication. When Mary-Louise’s outraged husband, Mortimer (James Slaughter), accuses John of cuckolding him, it is revealed that not only is Constance aware of her husband’s infidelity, but also that she couldn’t care less.
Act 3: The Payoff. One year later, Constance divulges to John her carefully planned retaliation. She is going to spend her upcoming continental holiday having an affair with old friend Bernard Kersal (John Wojda), who has always been devoted to her. Ever the hypocrite, John has no intention of agreeing that what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
From the above synopsis, it’s obvious that Maugham was ahead of his time in exposing the double standards being applied to the sexes. Luckily, his dialogue is dry and scintillating enough to prevent the play from becoming a preachy feminist tract.
Going’s staging exhibits just the right touch for a humorous trifle like this, getting first-rate turns from all of his cast members. (It is a testament to the performances of Elliott and McKenzie that they manage to hold their own against veteran scene-stealers Slaughter and Nancy Robinette, who plays Constance’s mother.)
Olney’s “The Constant Wife” is sheer nirvana for aficionados of droll, sophisticated comedy, and, as such, is highly recommended.
‘The Constant Wife’
Through March 11.
Venue: Olney Theatre Center, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, Md.
Performances: 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Sundays; 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays
Tickets: $25 to $46
More info: 301-924-3400,
www.olneytheatre.org
