The Way of the World, Festival Theatre

It is the year for restoration comedy. This time the wigs are out at Chichester where the Festival Theatre is hosting Congreve's Way of the World. The most remarkable features of this revival are Penelope Keith, who towers above the action proving that 70 is the new 60, and the costumes. Oh, the costumes... A powerhouse collection of sari silks and brocades, of bustles and borders, paisleys and purples, all offset by a feast of beauty spots and periwigs.The play itself is not quite as luxuriant though its plot is equally convoluted with so many seams and pockets that it's almost impossible to follow. Which is why the entire first act of one hour and twenty minutes is spent setting up the story.

Bewigged bothered and bewildered

It's something to do with a cheating and quite horrible husband trying to discredit his wife in order to seize her riches and set up with his mistress, who's her best friend.


In steps the serial love addict who has finally met the woman of his dreams, and woos her while disengaging from his mistress - who is the wife of the horrible husband - and sets up a series of deceits to safeguard his own inheritance and help his mistress keep hers. You get the gist. As part of this, Penelope, as Lady Wishfort, is being led a merry dance by a servant masquerading as a noble. Does it matter? Not really. The second half is perkier. Claire Price as Millamant is a delight and Jeremy Swift as Sir Wilfull Witwoud is a wonderfully drunken agrarian.

In Conclusion: Not worth a journey to the south coast, but fun enough if you're nearby. Go for the colour, style and swagger rather than the story or its substance, which is so thin it makes candy floss appear substantial.

References
Chichester Festival 2012, Bookings