REVIEW: The Circle, Theatre Royal, Bath

THE restrictions humans place on the value of true love never ceases to amaze.

Somerset Maugham's tale of social correctness and isolation opens your eyes up to an age-old world so devoid of love, it can leave you feeling quite depressed.

Ironic, considering the majority of scenes glisten with the kind of wit that plasters a sly grin permanently to your face.

The stately drawing room at country manor Aston-Adey is the kind of stoical setting perfect for a story of forbidden love.

Tory MP Arnold (Dale Ripley) has a trophy-piece wife. Lavishing her with gifts and luxuries is his way of proving he loves her, but this love is ice-cold.

As he so deftly puts it: "men get married to avoid the tiring mechanics of making love". Tragic for his miserable, emotion-starved wife Elizabeth whose lust for a penniless planter from Malaysia threatens to repeat a scandalous family history.

Arnold's mother, Lady Catherine Champion-Cheney (Wendy Craig) committed the ultimate social sin a generation back by bolting from her husband with the dashing Lord Porteous (Tony Britton). With the clock turning full circle, Lady Catherine (Kitty) bids to save her daughter-in-law from becoming the social outcast she herself became by following her heart.

Scenes belt along at a blistering pace, with wit replaced by high drama when the young couple's love is rawly exposed. Wendy Craig has lost none of her sparkle, demanding attention every time she walks on stage.

An Australian poet commenting on The Circle once said it would enjoy a long run because people of ordinary wit could turn-up to watch it and not have their intelligence insulted.

At first shocked by this arrogant stance, I came to fully understand his thinking by the play's conclusion.

Not everyone will love this play, but those who value love above our wickedly constraint-ridden society will want to see this dazzling performance time and time again.

CE