The Way of the World

William Congreve

The Way of the World

When you live in a world of extravagant parties, outrageous fashion and scandalous gossip, image is everything. So when Mirabell, a man with a reputation for wine, women and song, decides to go after the girl of his dreams, he knows it won’t be easy. For one, he’ll need the consent of the formidable Lady Wishfort before he can make his match. And to get that, he’ll have to resort to what he does best: deceit, slander and seduction… 3.6 out of 5 based on 5 reviews
The Way of the World

Omniscore:

Location Sheffield
Venue Sheffield Crucible
Director Lyndsey Turner
Cast Samuel Barnett, Leo Bill, Deborah Findlay, Joel Gillman, Richard Goulding, Daisy Lewis, Ben Lloyd Hughes, Sinead Matthews Richard Attlee
From February 2012
Until February 2012
Box Office 0114 249 6000
 

When you live in a world of extravagant parties, outrageous fashion and scandalous gossip, image is everything. So when Mirabell, a man with a reputation for wine, women and song, decides to go after the girl of his dreams, he knows it won’t be easy. For one, he’ll need the consent of the formidable Lady Wishfort before he can make his match. And to get that, he’ll have to resort to what he does best: deceit, slander and seduction…

Reviews

The Stage

Katie Galbraith

"Struts into the Crucible on killer heels. It’s a restoration comedy that fashion designer Alexander McQueen would have been proud of. Set designer Naomi Wilkinson wraps Mr Congreve’s work in a great big haute couture bow, and it works."

08/02/2012

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The Sunday Times

David Jays

"Dr Johnson called Congreve’s people “intellectual gladiators” — even the dolts sound good, especially in this brilliantly alert version. Outstanding are Deborah Findlay’s plaintive matriarch, Lucy Briggs-Owen’s plush misery and Leo Bill’s sulky loser. "

12/02/2012

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The Independent on Sunday

Kate Bassett

"Though the text is mainly preserved, everyone's rigged out in catwalk absurdities – half-1700, half-now – as we jump from film studio to fashion boutique to Wishfort's nouveau- riche mansion. Matthews totters around looking like Kylie Minogue in a lace-up bodice. Samuel Barnett's snide Witwoud is super-camp in knee-length shorts and flounced blouse. "

12/02/2012

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The Guardian

Michael Billington

"At its best, Turner's production acknowledges that, even when transposed to today's world of greed and gain, period comedy is largely about getting the tune right. Sometimes, however, the show is off-key. "

08/02/2012

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The Daily Telegraph

Charles Spencer

"The really radical thing to do with Restoration comedy today would be to stage it in period, with fans, beauty spots, huge wigs and superbly elegant diction from the actors. Instead, director Lyndsey Turner’s big idea is to “imagine that rather than belonging to the past, the Restoration is the next big trend to hit London”. Never mind that this makes a mockery of the arranged marriages and legal complexities of the plot: Congreve must be seen getting down and dirty with the kids."

08/02/2012

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