What a fascinating piece of theatrical archaeology this is. The ever-inventive Finborough is giving a long-overdue revival, the first since its 1950 West End premiere, to Emlyn Williams's hard-hitting look at the public consequences of private sexual peccadillos. The "Welsh Noël Coward" offers a wonderful insight into austerity-era morality, remarkably similar to today's "every public figure is fair game" thinking.
Initially, champagne flows as novelist Will Trenting (Aden Gillett) and wife Rona (Saskia Wickham) toast news of his knighthood. For years Rona has put up with her husband's double life. Unfortunately, Trenting's recent accolade means the police and press are unlikely to share Rona's tolerance, especially as he isn't too discerning about the ages of his "guests".
The excellent Gillett reveals sparks of dangerous volatility underneath an urbane exterior and there's fine support, in Blanche McIntyre's elegant production, from Wickham, Patrick Osborne as Trenting's achingly gauche teenage son and Graham Seed as a down-at-heel would-be blackmailer. James Cotterill's design cleverly has the audience sitting all around the polygonal room, listening intently as the incriminating evidence - and Trenting's troubles - mount. Highly recommended.
Until Feb 26. Box office 0844 847 1652, http://finboroughtheatre.co.uk/
Accolade
Finborough Theatre
Finborough Road, SW10 9ED
