REVIEW: DISTINGUISHED VILLA by Kate O’Brien at Finborough Theatre

‘A play from a bygone era with so much to tell us about our lives today’ ★★★★

1926. Mabel Hemsworth runs her suburban household with a rod of iron. A vain, obsessive snob, all around her bend to her will at the expense of their own needs, none more so than her gentle husband Natty. All that matters is keeping up appearances and maintaining status as the most distinguished villa on the avenue.

Beneath the surface, dysfunction abounds. A wife who, like Mrs Bennet in Pride and Prejudice, uses her supposed poor health to manipulate everyone to do her bidding. A lonely husband whose kind spirit is being steadily crushed. A sister who dreams of film stars and craves excitement while in a dull relationship with a fiancé she does not really love. And a posh lodger who looks down on her suburban surroundings but warms to the family with whom she lives.

This production of Distinguished Villa is the first in London since 1926. While some of the language and social mores in Kate O’Brien’s play were of its time, many of issues explored strongly resonate today: selfishness, vanity, the nature of love and the cruelty with which people can treat each other. The situation Gwen finds herself in does not have the same emotional power as it would have done in 1926, but it is difficult to think of a play that portrays a descent into mental illness better than this one does with the character of Natty.

Matthew Ashforde was outstanding. His portrayal of Natty was at times heartbreakingly hard to watch but utterly compelling, and drove the drama to its shocking conclusion in ways which were poignant and gripping. His performance was a masterclass in stage acting. Tessa Bonham Jones was excellent as Gwen Tupman, Mabel’s sister. Her performance was understated and intelligent, and she consistently avoided the trap of melodrama which an actress less skilled than her could have easily fallen into.  

Hugh Fraser’s direction was subtle where it needed to be and forceful where it mattered, creating the curtain twitching reality of suburban life in an era when appearances were everything. Superb.

Kudos to set designer Mim Houghton whose detailed recreation of the drab but pristine living room of Mabel’s dreams offered the perfect backdrop for this play, and Carla Evans’ costumes were gorgeous.

This may be a play from a bygone era, but it has so much to tell us about our lives today. Don’t miss it.

Distinguished Villa by Kate O'Brien, Finborough Theatre, 6 September 2022 – 1 October 2022, presented by Andrew Maunder (Aardvark Theatre) in association with Neil McPherson (Finborough Theatre) https://finboroughtheatre.co.uk/production/distinguished-villa/

Directed by Hugh Fraser

Cast: Matthew Ashforde, Mia Austen, Simon Haines, Tessa Bonham Jones, Brian Martin, Holly Sumpton

Set Design by Mim Houghton

Costume Design by Carla Evans

Lighting Design by Jonathan Simpson

Sound Design by Edward Lewis

Reviewer: Srabani Sen

Srabani is a theatre actress and playwright. As an actress she has performed at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse (The Globe), the Arcola, Southwark Playhouse, The Pleasance and numerous fringe theatres, in a range of roles from Shakespeare to plays by new and emerging writers. She has written several short and full-length plays. Her play Vijaya was shortlisted for the Sultan Padamsee Playwrights Award in Mumbai.