King Charles III

by Mike Bartlett

seen at Wyndhams Theatre on 28 January 2015

Subtitled 'a future history play', this transfer from the Almeida Theatre is directed by Rupert Goold and stars Tim Pigott-Smith in the title role.

The play opens on the accession of Charles as king, signalled by an Agnus Dei presumably being sung at Queen Elizabeth's funeral. Very soon the new King has created a constitutional crisis by the (possibly misplaced) conscientiousness of his approach to the task in hand - he refuses to give the Royal Assent to a new bill restricting press freedom. The political fallout and the philosophical issues are explored through confrontations between the King, the Prime Minister (presumed to be Labour), the Leader of the Opposition (presumed to be Tory), and immediate members of the Royal Family.

Widowers' Houses

by Bernard Shaw

seen at the Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond on 24 January 2015

This was the first performed play by Bernard Shaw, in 1892. It blends social comedy with intense criticism of the exploitation of poor tenants by slum landlords, but, as is often the case with Shaw, it does not attempt a dramatic resolution of the problems discussed. It is the first of three so-called 'Plays Unpleasant', designed to provoke rather than soothe an audience.