Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto

Philip's Commentary On

The Constant Wife by W. Somerset Maugham

TIT FOR THE GOOSE – TAT FOR THE GANDER

Mrs. Culver:  I am  unable to attach any great importance to the philanderings of men.  I think it’s their nature. . . . So long as a man is kind and civil to his wife do  you blame him very much if  he strays occasionally from the narrow path of virtue?

Martha: Do  you mean to say that you attach no importance to husbands and wives keeping their marriage vows?

Mrs. C: I think wives should.

Barbara: But that’s grossly unfair.  Why should they any more than men?

Mrs. C: Because on the whole they like it. . . . You are a widow and perfectly free.  Have you really had any great desire to do anything that the world might say  you shouldn’t?

Barabara: I have my business.  When you work hard eight hours a day you don’t much want to be bothered . . . with adoring males.

When: Monday, May 12 & Tuesday, May 27 at 7 pm
Where: Room 9
What: THE CONSTANT WIFE by W. SOMERSET MAUGHAM
Who: UUCPA Thespians
Why: To read a witty drawing room comedy that shocked audiences in 1926 and still raises some serious questions about the relations between men and women.

It’s public knowledge that John and Marie-Louise are having an affair.  But John’s wife Constance is, apparently, blissfully ignorant even though Marie-Louise is her best friend.  Constance’s spinster sister Martha insists that it is her “duty” to tell Constance that her marriage of 15 years has gone kaput.  Their mother Mrs. Culver disagrees.  Constance’s good friend Barbara, is neutral on that point but is ready to  “stand by” Constance when she inevitably finds out.  The plot is thickened when Bernard, a former suitor of Constance who has been in Japan the last 15 years, shows up and is obviously still in love with her.

Early in Act II, all of the above characters are having a pleasant chat in Constance’s drawing room when Marie-Louise’s husband Mortimer storms in brandishing John’s cigarette case which he found under his wife’s pillow!  That’s when the fun starts – and I’m not going to say a word more.

This is the first time the Thespians have read a Maugham play.  And it’s about time! Maugham combines the best of G. B. Shaw and Noel Coward but is less brittle than Coward and less ponderous that Shaw.  The plot is well constructed with ingenious twists, the characters are well developed, and the dialog is priceless (the opening quote is but a sample).

This play will read best with 7 to 9 readers.  Let me know (email thespians-info@uucpa.org or call me) which night  you prefer to come so we can try to achieve a balance.  We start promptly a 7 p.m.  Walk ons will be welcome provided there are parts left to read.

Philip Hodge, Chair.