The Roundabout, Park Theatre

Hugh Ross’s elegant production of ‘The Roundabout’ is a period treat from the Park Theatre. It’s a virtually unknown play by JB Priestly but the delightful cast of characters with their enviable banter and lively ideological debate makes a perfect distraction from the end of Summer. Not to mention the delicious set and costumes that ooze with a modern take on thirties style that never seems to go out of fashion.

The action takes place one afternoon on Lord Kettlewell’s country estate. It’s a bad day for Lord Kettlewell whose lover is turning out to be as demanding as his ex wife whilst all his business affairs are going down the tubes. It seems that being a member of the liberal landed gentry is not what it used to be. As his butler later points out, ‘ We’re living in a time of great social confusion.’

Things do not improve when one by one his unknown daughter, her communist pal, his estranged wife, his anxious lover, and a number of others all turn up to the delight of Chuffy, his gay best friend… and much comic drama ensues.

Roundabout is a country house comedy spiced up with some relatively serious debates about communism and capitalism, the class system, the sexes, how our families screw us up... most of which clearly belong to a certain point in history but generally don’t feel dated. In fact some of the more philosophical moments, about knowing ourselves and what the future holds feel perfectly contemporary.

But it’s the immaculately drawn characters with some killer comic lines that really draw you in. Richenda Carey, effortless as Lady Knightsbridge, commands the stage with her perfectly pitched dowager on the look out for any social or financial opportunity. Brian Protheroe as Lord Kettlewell gives an equally poised performance with a touching moment of self-discovery whilst Bessie Carter who makes her professional stage debut as Pamela charms the audience with irresistibly mischievous moments.

This very British comedy is clever without taking itself seriously and charming without being too sentimental. Though as Chuffy points out, sentimentality is ‘one of the cheapest luxuries there is.’ Highly recommended…if you like this sort of thing.