There is something constance middletons friends are dying to pss. The constant wife was one of his more popular plays and the usual trappings are there. That is the premise of somerset maughams whiplash 1920s comedy, revived by philip. The constant wife denver center for the performing arts. Apr 15, 1975 there will be many people who will wish to see ingrid bergman on broadway, and for them a word to the effect that she opened last night at the shubert theater in a revival of w. Somerset maugham s brilliantly funny play is charming, will make you laugh, and is a timeless tale of a woman discovering who she is and what she wants. The constant wife reminds me of noel cowards plays, particularly blithe spirit methuen modern plays with its surprise ending. Somerset maughams 1926 comedy the constant wife is. Feb 16, 2011 somerset maughams whiplash 1920s comedy of manners is shamelessly oldfashioned but has some cracking parts for women, writes lyn gardner. There is much to like about the constant wife 1927. We have witty epigrams and sweeping insights into the games people play since their baser needs have already been addressed. The official database for broadway theatre information shows. Both maughams parents died before he was 10, and he was. The constant wife, apollo theatre, london the independent.
Yet from that silly provenance, adept playwrights have wrought smart theater, and as the stylish production of the constant wife, now. Constance the constant but unfaithful wife constance middleton, beautiful and equally. The constant wife apr 14, 1975 may 10, 1975 written by w. Somerset maugham, was first produced on 1 november 1926 at the ohio theatre, cleveland. Somerset maugham, is a comedy whose modern and amusing take on marriage and infidelity gives a. Somerset maugham, was an english playwright, novelist, and short story writer. If one had told somerset maugham that the brittle charm of the. By using our website and our services, you agree to our use of cooki.
Grab your girlfriends for a fun theatre thursday night out at the theatre. A westport country playhouse presentation of a play in three acts by w. I think his collected plays were the first plays i read for pleasure, after. Publication date 1927 topics uod collection digitallibraryindia. The constant wife, apollo theatre, london a cynical take on somerset maugham. W somerset maugham on the relationship between life and art by khato sulaberidze. If one had told somerset maugham that the brittle charm of the twenties would be represented by actors such as. The constant wife by maugham, somerset and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Somerset maughams classic comedy to the spoleto festival.
He was among the most popular writers of his era and reputedly the highestpaid author during the 1930s. Somerset maugham s plays are infrequently staged on broadway. He was a prolific playwright and also a writer of novels and short stories. The constant wife, a comedy of manners, was written by w. Somerset maughams serious novels the razors edge, the painted veil, the moon and sixpence, and of human bondage but i didnt know hed written any humorous pieces nor that he had penned so many plays. The constant wife and other women who broke the mans mold august 22, 2018 by john moore, senior arts journalist the constant wife opens rehearsals with a surprisingly modern feel. Maugham s popular comedy of modern manners espouses that so long as a wife is supported by her husband she must remain faithful, but when the tables are turned freedom becomes the currency with which both must pay. Although the author is most celebrated as a novelist and shortstory writer, it was as a playwright that he first knew success. Somerset maughams whiplash 1920s comedy of manners is shamelessly oldfashioned but has some cracking parts for women, writes lyn. A comedy in three acts maugham, william somerset on. Constance the constant but unfaithful wife constance middleton, beautiful and equally tasteful, is married to john. Somerset maugham, the heavyduty novelist of human bondage, the razors edge who turns out to be the author of 29 playssome, like this, much. In maughams play, a woman with the symbolically bourgeois name of constance middleton appears unwitting of her husbands flagrant affair with constances best friend, marielouise dunham.
Maughams modern and amusing take on marriage and infidelity gives a quickwitted, alternative view on. Somerset maugham and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Frontispiece portrait of ethel barrymore, to whom the book is dedicated and who appeared in the original production. One of the most admired and widely read authors of this century. Constant wife, a maugham comedy the new york times. The constant wife unlike those of his contemporary noel coward, w. Cowards last play about an embittered writer, a song at twilight is a thinly disguised portrait of the elderly maugham. The constant wife reminds me of noel cowards plays, particularly blithe spirit with its surprise ending. It will bear many repeated listenings, losing nothing in knowing what comes next, but becoming even better. The constant wife 1975 broadway playbill ingrid bergman. The constant wife a comedy in three acts by maugham, w.
Somerset maughams play the constant wife should prove sufficient. In 1951, katherine cornell was a great success playing the lead in maugham s comedy the constant wife. Jun 20, 2005 of all people, the constant wife is the work of w. The constant wife, somerset maughams comedy of marital manners and mores is the latest roundabout revival to send us time travelling backward. The sacred flame gives an unusual note of noirish suspense to a moving drama of protective maternal. See more ideas about somerset maugham, theatre and gate. Thomas medical school and qualified as a doctor, but abandoned medicine after the success of his first novels and plays. Kate burton reprises her tonynominated performance as constance middleton in w. Somerset maugham, directed by kyle donnelly, saturday through may 1, bagley wright theatre, 155 mercer st. Listen to unlimited audiobooks on the web, ipad, iphone and android. This first volume of somerset maughams collected plays includes sheppey, his last and best comedy of a cockney barber who determines to give his sweepstake winnings to the poor. Somerset maugham is credited as director, writer and source material. Theres something constance middletons friends are dying to tell her.
W somerset maugham the constant wife first edition 1926. Popular british novelist, playwright, shortstory writer and the highestpaid author in the world in the 1930s, somerset maugham graduated in 1897 from st. Somerset maugham in 1926 and later published for general sales in april 1927. Somerset maugham, is a comedy whose modern and amusing take on marriage and infidelity gives a quickwitted, alternative view on how to deal with an extramarital affair. Somerset maugham has the strange ability, unique to his oeuvre, to write entertainingly, engagingly, and yet thoroughly unconvincingly about. That unfamiliarity, plus the chance to appreciate deliciously witty. Somerset maugham s brilliantly funny play is charming, will make you laugh, and is a timeless tale of a woman discovering who she is and. During world war i he worked as a secret agent and in 1928 settled in. Smart, sophisticated, constance middleton is kind and rich and yet all her friends feel sorry for her. The constant wife 1975 broadway playbill ingrid bergman jack. The roundaboutis delightful new revival of somerset maughamis the constant wife.
Although the states 1926, stott registers april 1927 as the publishing date. I thought it was an insightful examination on the limitations that women had in marriage during that period. Somerset maughams the constant wife, running december 7 march 12 in sarasota, florida. The constant wife by w somerset maugham 24 february 2011 salisbury playhouse directed by philip wilson salisbury playhouse photostream on flickr. The constant wife jun 16, 2005 aug 21, 2005 written by w. Full length play, comedy 4m, 5f maughams popular comedy of modern manners espouses that so long as a wife is supported by her husband she must remain faithful, but when the tables are turned freedom becomes the currency with which both must pay. Somerset maugham, is a comedy whose modern and amusing take on marriage and infidelity gives a quickwitted, alternative view on how to deal with an extramarital affair a sparkling comedy of ill manners, the constant wife features the resourceful and charming constance middleton, who has long known that her husband had been having an. The constant wife, produced by alan stanford, written by w. Somerset maugham constance middleton is the calm, intelligent, and selfpossessed wife of a successful london doctor.
This production has an absolutely gorgeous set by allen moyer, a perfect blending of the gilt and orientalia that was characteristic of the period. They need read no further, except to be advised that it is a limited. In maugham s play, a woman with the symbolically bourgeois name of constance middleton appears unwitting of her husbands flagrant affair with constances best friend, marielouise dunham. The gate theatre brings its wellacted production of w. See all 8 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. W somerset maugham the constant wife first edition 1926 ebay. At the age of 10, maugham was orphaned and sent to england to live with his uncle, the vicar of whitstable. Somerset maugham, kate burton, stephen collins, full cast for free with a 30 day free trial. Knowing full well her husbands infidelity with her best friend marielouise. This abrasive warbetweenthesexes comedy focuses on a socialite, who pretends not to know her doctor husband is playing doctor with her best friend.
Somerset maugham s play the constant wife image courtesy irish mirror. Priestley wellmade plays has reached somerset maugham. Somerset maughams plays are infrequently staged on broadway. Westport country playhouse, westport, conn 707 seats. Enjoy a festive preshow party including a cocktail and live music starting an hour before the performance of the constant wife. Maughams constant wife coming to the rep the seattle. During world war i he worked as a secret agent and in 1928 settled. Somerset maughams play the constant wife april 24, 2015 wordsmith leave a comment maugham has a cynical take on marriage in this one he reduces it to the level of a commercial transaction driven by a mutual need and an eye on ones own profit. Maughams modern and amusing take on marriage and infidelity gives a quickwitted, alternative view on how to deal with an extramarital affair. Somerset maughams whiplash 1920s comedy of manners is shamelessly old fashioned but has some cracking parts for women, writes lyn. The time is 1926, the year when the play premiered on broadway starring ethel barrymore and, after a respectable 295performance run, moved to london.