There’s something really exciting about stumbling across a production that completely surprises you, and that’s exactly what happened with An Ideal Husband at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre. Oscar Wilde’s classic already has all the ingredients for brilliant theatre scandal, wit, messy relationships and sharp social commentary but director Nicholas Hytner La Barrie gives it a fresh contemporary twist that makes it feel modern without losing Wilde’s original genius.
The play follows Sir Robert Chiltern, a man who appears to have the perfect life: status, wealth, reputation and the perfect marriage. But once the manipulative Mrs Cheveley arrives with secrets ready to destroy everything, the cracks begin to show. Wilde’s writing reminds us that nobody is perfect, and that society often expects people especially in relationships to present this flawless version of themselves. That’s what makes his work still feel so relevant now.
Musically, the production works so well. The R&B and jazz influences running throughout the show give it such a cool energy and make the whole thing feel stylish and slick. It never feels forced either it genuinely adds to the atmosphere. There was one very minor thing that kept throwing me off slightly, and honestly only because the production was so good that I had to critique it somehow. After the interval, the music would build up like the show was about to start again, and then it just… didn’t. It happened a few times and slightly interrupted the flow but once the second half properly kicked in, the production really found its rhythm and became brilliant.
The set design is simplistic but effective. It doesn’t try too hard, which actually works in its favour because it allows the performances and Wilde’s dialogue to shine. There were a few line slips from some of the cast during the first half, but strangely it almost added to the live theatre charm. Nobody is perfect which ironically fits the message of the play itself.
Performance-wise, there were standouts everywhere. Emmanuel Akwafo as Mason/Phillips absolutely stole scenes as the butler. Wickedly funny, naturally charismatic and perfectly timed. Every time he came on stage, the audience lifted. Tiwa Lade as Mabel Chiltern was brilliant too, bringing warmth and confidence to the role.
But the standout performance for me was Jamael Westman as Lord Goring. Unbelievably talented, funny, witty and effortlessly watchable. He completely understood Wilde’s humour and delivered it perfectly.
The only performance that did not fully land for me was Aurora Perrineau as Mrs Cheveley. She definitely had presence and charisma, and you could see the confidence she brought to the role, but I did not always feel the character carried the level of danger or manipulation needed for such an important villain. Mrs Cheveley is the person who drives the scandal and tension of the entire story, so I wanted a little more bite and intensity from some of the bigger moments. Still, it never distracted too much from how entertaining the production became overall.
What surprises me most is that more people are not talking about this show. I genuinely think the marketing and poster do not sell it well enough, because if I had been more aware of its presence especially living only a mile away I would have booked immediately. It feels almost irrelevant that it passed me by so easily, because it really is a great production. It was also refreshing to see such a diverse, almost entirely black cast and an inclusive approach on stage, and the sexy, modern interpretation added something really fresh and engaging to the overall experience. Considering the play was written over 150 years ago, it must have originally been very strait-laced and conservative, so seeing it reimagined in such a bold, contemporary way really worked.
This production gets better and better as it goes on, and by the end I was completely won over. Funny, clever, stylish and sharp, it proves once again why Oscar Wilde was such a genius good writing never really dates at the end of the day. I’m surprised it’s on for such a short run. It’s only on until 6th June, so hurry up and get a ticket before it’s too late.