The Way of the World - Donmar

They have dedicated the show to Alex Bennett and the programme has his bio and photo at the front.

I really enjoyed this. I don’t understand why some people think the first half is hard going. It starts with a beautifully clear exposition of the two men's circumstances, characters and intentions and I’ve never heard work of this period more clearly spoken, in fact spoken in as modern a way as possible. In this respect Tom Mison is remarkable making it seem he is actually thinking of the words as he goes which avoids all that 'delivering' that this kind of play often produces. Geoffrey Streatfeild is super too. I think Haydn Gwynne is very good but misses a touch of the pathos I think. Yes, she is a ridiculous figure to be laughed at but the play is also about the treatment of women and how they manoeuvre in such a restrictive society. The ending is a part of this. How can a modern audience accept the reconciliation possibility of the Fainalls? I wish this play was in the school syllabus and this production one that they take kids to. It really does throw up challenges.

Costumes, set, general direction all really good. Great the Donmar saw fit to put this on.

Yes I agree. Good acting and direction, the problems such as they are (bit too long, bit too complicated) are all in the play. Quite a few leavers at the interval - not justified in my view. Fisayo Akinade particularly good as the fop - quite an unusual reading of it, delicate and restrained, very effective. 

Justifies my view that the way to do these plays is set them in period and employ the best actors you can afford - the frantic mugging and 1920s setting we had at Southwark recently also supports the view. 

Me again. This really is a good production. I got to enjoy more of the subtle points this time such as the little nods and acknowledgements of the audience which lead to that pay off line about all the characters being together there like the end of a play from Witwoud. Last night someone cackled so loud at one of the lines in the Millament - Mirabelle scene that she looked up at the person in the gallery and nearly lost it. But her 'edge', that is being on the point of laughing, was a joy throughout the performance.

Saw the Follies of Mrs Rich last week in Stratford. The programme for that says that it was produced in same season. Fascinating light on position of women. Congreve darker.

I now have a work commitment tonight which clashes with my The Way of the World trip ;( So I have a great Circle seat ticket (B11 which is close to the middle) which is now available. Paid £20 for it. Shout if interested and I can arrange for a reprint or can drop off the ticket. Gutted. Thanks.

I saw this last night ( Wed) and it was tough going. As seems to be the usual case with the Donmar these days there were quite a few empty seats ( The York Realist being the notable exception). The sheer general lifelessness of the production had many in attendance fast asleep. As has been noted here I don't think Mr McDonald had a clear "take" on the play so the acting styles were all over the place and the complex plot wasn't well communicated . The set design was totally uninspired as well. Ms Rourke has clearly lost interest in this building. If you're going to produce a rarely produced classic there should be some passion for the property evident in the production. There wasn't any here. Even the essays in the programme were from dull academics.