Review: Three Short Classics, Lace Market Theatre

With three well-acted and richly rewarding plays, this is a value-for-money evening.

Strindberg’s Stronger asks who is the stronger of two women, both of whom, significantly, are actresses. Madame Y (Clara Gonzales), who sits saying nothing at all but whose expressive face speaks volumes, has had a fling with the husband of Madame X (Alina Hughes), who proceeds to harangue her rival.

Madame X leaves, apparently believing that she’s the winner because she’s kept the husband. But to do so she’s had to copy her competitor’s taste and characteristics. Madame Y’s expression is enigmatic; does she too believe that she’s triumphed? If so, who’s right?

In Chekov’s Swansong an ageing, and highly actorish actor (Richard Fife), who like the bottle, wakes from a post-performance snooze to find himself apparently alone in the theatre. In a monologue, at first to himself, later to an old prompter (Dan Maddison), he goes over his life, alternating between pride and self-pity. But as they leave at the end the mood is a positive one.

Overruled makes one wonder whether George Bernard Shaw is due for a revival. Well-constructed and packed with paradox and epigrams – “It’s always the happy marriages that fail” - it’s a very Wildean piece. And it reminds one a lot of Coward.

Two married couples, both of whom have decided on separate cruising holidays, coincidentally get tangled up in on-board flirtations with the opposite number.

During the subsequent four-way conversation it emerges that the two wives (played by Tamzin Grayson and Maeve Doggett) are down-to-earth and matter-of-fact about their intended infidelities. The husbands (Roger Watson and Matthew Thomason), on the other hand, take a priggish view of theirs. In a complex and very witty exchange of ideas Shaw is clearly on the women’s side.

Directors are Gill Scott and Alex Deacon.

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