Theatre Review - The Forsyte saga

Jamie Wilkes and Flora Spencer-Longhurst in The Forsyte Saga [Mitzi De Margary]

FIRST published together in 1922, John Galsworthy’s novels follow the fortunes of the Forsytes, a wealthy middle-class family, of farming stock, with upper-class aspirations.

Shaun McKenna and Lin Coghlan’s thrilling two-part adaptation (playing in rep), opens in 1886. Wealthy solicitor, Soames Forsyte (Joseph Millson), a man of property, is obsessed by money and ownership. He longs for his beautiful, distant wife Irene (Fiona Hampton) to return the passion he feels for her.

Soames commissions an up-and-coming architect, Philip Bosinney (Andy Rush), betrothed to Irene’s friend June (Florence Roberts), to build a country house which he hopes will bind her to him. But none of them, least of all Soames, has reckoned with Irene and Philip falling in love.

In Part 2, it’s 1920, Soames is older but no wiser and still carries a candle for Irene. His second wife Annette (Roberts) has given him a child Fleur (Flora Spencer-Longhurst) who proves she’s her father’s daughter when she sets her heart on Jon (Rush), Irene’s son.

In Josh Roche’s enthralling two productions, the action is played out on a largely bare stage. A drawing room is cleverly evoked with a burgundy-red carpet and long curtains, occasional chairs and lights. This uncluttered approach foregrounds the story beautifully.

There’s more light and shade in the stronger first part with Fleur serving as a curious narrator. Her dogged pursuit of Jon in Part 2 occasionally tests our sympathy, but Galsworthy’s twists keep us invested in the fate of his characters.

Millson gives a masterly and nuanced turn as the controlling Soames and is well matched by Hampton’s equally sensitive performance. A magnificent supporting cast complete this exhilarating and eloquent family saga.

Until December 7
parktheatre.co.uk/

Originally published by Islingon Tribune