Less Than Kind Review

Less Than Kind

Salisbury Playhouse, Salisbury

This is an hilarious little curio that should be seen. Less Than Kind is a recently re-discovered play written by Terence Rattigan in 1944, but since altered to create Love in Idleness. Now the original text is being brought to the stage by director, Adrian Brown. The play opens with Sue Holderness as Olivia Brown, a working class widow and mother who has recently become acquainted with an American tank manufacturer, Sir John Fletcher. She now lives in one of his houses as his mistress and enjoys the trappings of an upper class lifestyle. Olivia portraits a woman who is happy in her new life, but as the past comes rushing back she is faced with the dilemma over whose side she should take.

The highlight performances are Charlie Hamblett as Olivia’s son, Michael Brown, and William Gaminara as John Fletcher, who deliver most of the comedy. Michael is a young dandy who returns home following his education in Canada. He has been influenced by left wing ideals into believing that John Fletcher is a notorious right wing businessman. During the first act, out of love for his mother, he makes every effort to break the relationship up. Brusque and outspoken, Hamblett is quite the Hamlet that Fletcher alludes to at one point. At times he verges on the point of childishness but for the most part he is surprisingly entertaining.

Despite what Michael says, John Fletcher is absolutely charming, though he can easily go on the offensive against the boy's attacks. The arguments between the two over their differing points of view became increasingly tense. The first act is very entertaining, because of the different schemes that Michael hatches. He goes from alluding to Hamlet to inviting Fletcher's wife, Diana (Laura Doddington), around to the house, hoping to expose him. The first act is a tonne fun, and I was left eager for more

At the conclusion of fist act the play could easily have finished with an open ending, leaving the audience retaining some sympathy for Michael. Yet the farcical plot is extended into what feels like an unnecessary second act. That said, there are still some hilarious moments and the play does eventually conclude with the characters finding common ground. The set designs are pretty basic, apart from the complete contrast between the two acts, so it is down to the actors to produce this hilarious play. This they accomplish fantastically, and despite the second act I would recommend this at a high Bargain.