Somerset Maugham’s The Constant Wife, now showing at Richmond Theatre, is a remarkably fresh exploration of marital infidelity and social hypocrisy for a play written 100 years ago. Laura Wade’s reimagining of the original script brings a contemporary sharpness without disturbing its period charm. Her trademark wit threads neatly through the production, giving the story an appealing pace.

At the centre is Kara Tointon, who delivers a beautifully judged performance as Constance, portraying a wronged wife who chooses to handle her husband’s affair with her best friend on her own terms. Playing a fundamentally “nice” character can so easily slip into blandness, yet Tointon holds the stage with elegance, intelligence and a quiet steeliness that makes Constance far more than a passive victim.

Amy Vicary‑Smith makes an admirable foil as her feisty sister Martha and the rapport between the two characters ensures that they are convincing as sisters. Vicary-Smith also deservedly receives enthusiastic applause from the audience for her lively and thorough summary of the story at the start of Act Two. Her spirited recap effectively sets the tone for the narrative as it moves forward.

Philip Rham is a delight as Bentley, the piano‑playing butler whose dry mischief and impeccable timing lend the production a faint whiff of Wodehouse. Except for Bentley, the remaining male characters, John (Tim Delano), the philandering husband; Bernard Kersal (Jules Brown), the former lover; and Mortimer Durham (Sam Flint), Marie-Louise’s cuckolded spouse, are portrayed with little energy or complexity.

Mrs Culver as a reactionary mother who councils Constance to conform to the prevailing social mores of the day,

Anna Fleischle’s costumes and set capture the glamour of the 1920s with immaculate detail while Jamie Cullum’s incidental music gently underscores the play’s mood without intruding.

This is a stylish, witty revival that adds up to a pleasant if undemanding evening. It is well acted, deftly produced and beautifully designed, as well as being enhanced by Jamie Cullum’s jazz-inflected score

4 stars

THE CONSTANT WIFE is playing at the Richmond Theatre 9 to 14 February 2026

For tickets and further information see link below

https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/the-constant-wife/richmond-theatre

Reviewed by Nina Gardner

Cast

Kara Tointon – Constance Middleton
Jules Brown – Mortimer Durham
Tim Delap – John Middleton
Alex Mugnaioni – Bernard Kersal
Gloria Onitiri – Marie-Louise Durham
Philip Rham – Bentley
Amy Vicary-Smith – Martha Culver
Sara Crowe – Mrs Culver
Understudies – Sam Flint, Jocasta King and Jane Lambert

Creatives

Laura Wade – Writer
Tamara Harvey – Director
Anna Flesichle – Set and Co-Costume Designer
Jamie Cullum – Composer
Cat Fuller – Co-Costume Designer
Sally Ferguson – Lighting Designer
Claire Windsor – Sound Designer
Francesca Murray Fuentes – Associate Director
Angelica Rush – Associate Designer
Annie-Lunnette Deakin-Foster – Movement Director
Sarah Bird – Casting Director
Mark Frankum CDG – Casting Director