Some members of the Theatre Goers group went to see Noel Coward’s “Relative Values” at the Plaza, Romsey, on Saturday 19th September. The theme centred on that subject so beloved of many English writers and dramatists, and particularly Noel Coward, the class system.
An aristocratic family of the 1950s is most disconcerted to learn that the heir to the estate is marrying an actress who is not quite out of the top drawer. Additionally, she is not all she seems and has a habit of embroidering her life story with more glamour than truth. The humour of the play comes from the ironic commentary of the characters on the family situation and life in general, for instance Crestwell, the butler, often shares his views with the other servants for us to overhear. This character reminded me somewhat of Oscar Wilde’s Jeeves. Felicity, Countess of Marshwood has a wonderful line in irony and unobtrusive but manipulative control of the other members of the family. The only flaw that marred an otherwise enjoyable evening was that some of the voices were a little quiet so it could be difficult for the audience to hear.
Susan Tripp