When We Are Married (Oberon Modern Plays)

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Set designers Carolyn and David Garwes with their construction team created an Edwardian sitting room perfectly: aspidistras, antimacassars, velvet curtains and sepia photographs conveyed an image of prosperous respectability, cushioned from the world outside. The costumes complemented the set, giving an impression of starched, buttoned-up formality, creating a sense that keeping up appearances is of prime importance. This the TV adaptation of JB Priestly's play of the same name first published in 1938. Three couples are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversaries. Not only do they all share the same anniversary they all got married at the same church at the same time by the same preacher. But a revelation that comes forth during the festivities throws them all in a turmoil. The play revolves around the repercussions of this revelation, and what can be done to solve the problem. The story is further enhanced with the possibility that certain characters are quite pleased with the new situation and are not especially enthusiastic about rectifying it. Some members of the Conservative Party, including Winston Churchill, expressed concern that Priestley might be expressing left-wing views on the programme, and, to his dismay, Priestley was dropped after his talk on 20th October 1940. Special mention must go to Kat Rose-Martin as Ruby Birtle, the Helliwells’ untidy 15 year old maid, with her complete inability to state anything but the truth on all occasions. Her timing is exemplary, and this audience completely fell in love with her. What's new? there's accidental kisses (too many of them), wrist grabs with long pause, constantly looking at each other moments (and me be like "Let's skip 30 sec" the same thing is still going on "Oh no! Let's skip more………" ) and ta-da this is how they fell in love, a bitch yet Beautiful looking 2nd female lead who plans obstacles, then ML saving FL like some superhero, the good 2nd male lead (who will never get the girl **actually sad for him** )… again what's new!?

BBC's Play of the Month broadcast an adaptation on 29 December 1975 directed by David Giles with John Stratton as Joseph Helliwell, Beryl Reid as Maria Helliwell, Eric Porter as Albert Parker, Patricia Routledge as Annie Parker, Richard Pearson as Herbert Soppitt, Thora Hird as Clara Soppitt, Shirley Steedman as Ruby Birtle, Sheila Burrell as Mrs. Northrop, Ronnie Barker as Henry Ormonroyd and Sheila Reid as Lottie Grady. [11] There's also excellent support from Jodie McNee as the chirpy maid from Rotherham; Lynda Baron as the cook/ housekeeper who listens at keyholes and treats her employers with open contempt; and Roy Hudd is photographer Henry Ormonroyd who has more interest in alcohol than taking snaps. Hope you enjoy watching ...cuz I did too ...for I knew what to expect ….and this became a good watch !In the heart of Northern England, three respectable couples, married on the same day, at the same church, and by the same vicar, join to celebrate 25 years of blissful matrimony. Or so they think. So well in short if you are looking for a cliched drama ...this one is a perfect bet ...with cute moments and every cliche you can possibly expect ….this just makes a proper time pass drama ! There isn't a dud performance in the ranks and this venerable play still delivers the comic goods with engaging panache." Even though there were loopholes with the story yet the chemistry between Main leads felt real in some scenes… I guess it's their acting… Three self-made men and their wives discover, at their silver wedding celebrations, that the ceremonies were performed by a minister who was not authorised to do so.

Set in a prosperous woollen town in Yorkshire's West Riding, 'When We Are Married' is a comedy which has stood the test of time relatively well. Now a septuagenarian, it's as much a historical piece as a comedy, but it's also one of those plays that has actors fighting for parts because of the richness of the characters, and the riches to be found in Priestley's unique concept and nimble dialogue. This fine ensemble make the most of every moment. Maureen Lipman as Clara Soppitt employs her exceptional comic timing to great effect as her mousey husband (Sam Kelly) suddenly finds his voice and exerts his authority. Simon Rouse's bombastic Councillor Parker has to rethink his marital stance as his initially meek wife Annie (Michele Dotrice) bluntly tells him that he's not only "pompous, dull and stingy" but also "very, very dreary". And David Horovitch's Alderman Helliwell finds his temper strained as his better half Maria (played by Susie Blake) threatens to leave him and the drudgery she endures in running the household.The bombshell about the illegal marriages was delivered with barely suppressed glee by the new la-di-dah organist (Danny Washington) and this ‘right to-do’ allowed the audience to see the fault-lines and power plays in the three central relationships.

St. Martin's Theatre", The Times, 12 October 1938, p. 12; "Princes Theatre", The Times, 28 March 1939, p. 12; and "Theatres", The Times, 24 June 1939, p. 10 The publication of English Journey in 1934 emphasised Priestley's concern for social problems and the welfare of ordinary people.You know with those contract marriage to love tropes there’s not much scope for freshness ...but still the leads portray a decent chemistry ...with fun moments scattered all the way …you are in for a decent ride … I suspect that this revival is most likely to be appreciated by those of a certain age. Though it is dated in terms of the societal values it portrays, there's also much which feels modern, especially in terms of role reversal. But it is a rather 'northern' play in terms of both the style of humour and some of the linguistic niceties. For example, I don't hear many people in London describing an argument as 'fratching', even though it is correctly listed in the dictionary. So I'm not sure that West End audiences will fully appreciate the nuances in Priestly's well-observed description. Still, it has endearing charm, great characters and more than enough humour to make for a good night out. What would you do if you discovered after 25 years of marriage that your wedding had never been officially sanctioned? In other words, you'd never been married at all? Well, that might not matter so much, perhaps, if you were living in our modern liberal times. But in 1908 such a matter could well have been a public scandal of monumental significance, opening the floodgates to public derision and humiliation. After the war Priestley continued his writing, and his work invariably provoked thought, and his views were always expressed in his blunt Yorkshire style.