Christine Rose reviews An Ideal Husband.

First published in the Barnet Post, 15 May 2025

Adapted and Directed by Mary Groom and Ömer Warman, Oscar Wilde’s An Ideal Husband is the tale of deception, ruin, honour and hope. Performed Upstairs at The Gatehouse Theatre from 1st – 4th May 2025 by The Garden Suburb Theatre (GST), Groom began editing the script during lockdown, enchanted by the 130-year old play’s witty and stirring writing. Reimagined, the play was set in the 1980s, featuring a bold aesthetic, elevated by a range of admirable costumes by Danielle Flower and uplifting 80s toe-tapping music.

Standout performance in melodrama must be credited to Kirsty Newman as Mrs Cheveley, who skilfully brought the conniving, manipulative and intrepid character to life, in a brilliantly humorous and vibrant way. Clad in chic Madonna styling, Newman was irresistibly watchable as the calculating crook, dedicated to a life of swindling and villainy. With excellent chemistry and rivalry between them, acclaim must also be given for effortless clarity and charm by Tom Osborne as Lord Goring, bringing to the character a sense of calm, insight and resoluteness.

Exquisite one-liners delivered by Debbie Lane as Lady Markby and Samantha Charles as Lady Caversham, both offered hilarious and stimulating moments. The remaining cast rounded out the play with solid, enjoyable performances by Jessica Curtis as Lady Chiltern, Edward Smith as Sir Robert Chiltern, Ari-Miyuki Kondylis as Miss Mabel Chiltern and Pablo Gomez Rodriguez as Mason and Phipps.

The themes transfer well to modern day, where a fall in honour threatens the destruction of status, and scandal is exposed and hunted distastefully. However, integrity and principles remained key in the action throughout, reiterating the fragility of image and the very real dangers of a fall from grace.

An Ideal Husband was a witty, whimsical frolic, playful, lively and entertaining, enjoyed by a large jovial audience.

The Garden Suburb Theatre are one of North London’s oldest amateur dramatics groups with a history of exploring modern classics to Shakespeare, staging shows in local theatres and their own Little Oak Wood amphitheatre. GST are committed to creating brilliant, fun, and artistic theatre for and by the community: https://www.gardensuburbtheatre.org.uk/ 

Stars: 4 stars