THE TRUTH ABOUT BLAYDS

Finborough Theatre

★★★

“If you enjoy theatre with a sting in the tail, this revival of ‘The Truth About Blayds’ delivers”

Every family has secrets. But what if yours is so explosive it could derail a national institution? ‘The Truth About Blayds’ explores the collision of power and principles, exposing the dangers of idolising money and fame. Despite its sharp execution and timely themes, it may feel a little tone-deaf to contemporary tastes.

One of A. A. Milne’s early plays (yes, that A. A. Milne), ‘The Truth About Blayds’ is set in the 1920s and opens on the 90th birthday of literary titan, Oliver Blayds. Blayds is lauded alongside Wordsworth and Tennyson, and devoted literary critic, A. L. Royce, is invited to give a special address in his honour. However, Royce’s reverence is met with cynicism from Blayds’ grandchildren Oliver and Septima, resentful devotion from Blayds’ youngest daughter Isobel, and self-interested pragmatism from Blayds’ eldest daughter Marion and her husband William. When a shattering revelation threatens to rip everything away, will the family do the right thing? Or will the burden of legacy sway their moral compasses?

Produced by Andrew Maunder and Neil McPherson for the Finborough Theatre, this production embodies the theatre’s mission to revive plays untouched for over 25 years. Written by A. A. Milne (of ‘Winnie-the-Pooh’ fame), the text captures a web of tension between characters with wit and mischief: Oliver’s cynicism cuts through Royce’s blind adoration; Isobel’s saint-like self-sacrifice clashes with William and Marion’s scheming; William patronises Marion despite adopting her surname. Furthermore, Milne cleverly reveals that Blayds’ isn’t the only façade: every character is hiding something. You could argue it’s the perfect play to revive in a post-truth world. However, revivals risk failing to resonate with modern audiences, and this is no exception. Recent power-abuse scandals have rocked the nation, and the story of a rich white man’s unchecked privilege sits rather uncomfortably in their wake.

David Gilmore’s direction speaks volumes through silence, with reactions slicing as sharply as the witty prose. There are some bold directional choices. Septima’s final plea to the family is delivered with her back to the audience, introducing ambiguity to her intentions. Isobel breaks the fourth wall with her final line, forcing the audience to confront the family’s decision.

The performances are sharp and controlled, though perhaps a little too buttoned-up at points. George Rowlands’ razor-sharp timing means Oliver’s acid wit steals every scene. William Gaunt’s Blayds infuses a lifetime of experience into his surprisingly fleeting performance, steeped in reminiscence before revealing his quiet dread. Catherine Cusack shows appropriate restraint but I couldn’t help wanting to see Isobel unravel.

Alex Marker’s stage design captures Victorian maximalism, appearing both opulent and sterile. The deceptively simple lighting (Jonathan Simpson) sets the scene with the backlit sash windows of a London townhouse, and a soft spot subtly illuminating Blayds’ omnipotent portrait. The costumes (Carla Joy Evans) span Victorian, Edwardian and flapper eras, emphasising inter-generational divides. Scene changes set to Strauss’ waltzes contrast flowing beauty with scheming pettiness, reinforcing façade over fact.

If you enjoy theatre with a sting in the tail, this revival of ‘The Truth About Blayds’ delivers. It may not have aged that gracefully and the delivery can feel a touch polite, but there’s no shortage of wit, warmth, and scandal to keep the evening entertaining.

THE TRUTH ABOUT BLAYDS

Finborough Theatre

Reviewed on 13th September 2025

by Hannah Bothelton

Photography by Carla Joy Evans

Previously reviewed at this venue:

DIAGNOSIS | ★★★½ | May 2025

THE INSEPERABLES | ★★★ | April 2025

THE PASSENGER | ★★★★ | February 2025

KAFKA | ★★ | June 2024

THE TAILOR OF INVERNESS | ★★★ | May 2024

BANGING DENMARK | ★★★ | April 2024

FOAM | ★★★★ | April 2024

JAB | ★★★★ | February 2024

THE WIND AND THE RAIN | ★★★ | July 2023

SALT-WATER MOON | ★★★★ | January 2023

THE TRUTH ABOUT BLAYDS

★★★★

“a magnificent spectacle of a classic play that continues to engage”

J B Priestley’s ‘An Inspector Calls’ continues its over 30 year run on tour this year, and I was lucky enough to see it played at Alexandra Palace. Like most people, I first read (and adored) the play at 15 for my GCSEs, however, I never got a chance to see it until now. I’m glad to say my high expectations were not disappointed.

It’s 1912 and the upper class Birling family are celebrating the engagement of Sheila Birling and Gerald Croft over dinner. Yet, their celebrations halt when Inspector Goole pays them a visit, and informs them of the death of a local lower class woman. Through his investigation of the family, they become shaken by their involvement in the woman’s life and their clear contributions to her death.

The play is none traditional in its portrayal of the text. The family’s introduction is framed from an outsider’s perspective – due to the fantastic design of Ian MacNeil. A house where the Birling’s is hoisted above the stage, which appears as a destroyed and blackened street. The opening scene is played within the house, while others watch them on the street. An interesting portrayal of the hierarchical society in which we live. I was a little apprehensive at this point, however, due to the overuse of haze on stage that practically blocked all sightlines, while it was also quite hard to hear the actors’ dialogue. Mics are used, but I fear they were too quiet against the echoey space. I think the opening scene is key in introducing the characters, setting up the context and foreshadowing the events of the play, so I would have liked the scene to be visible, rather than wholly playing inside the rather small house. Instead, the set opens up when the Inspector is introduced to the family and – to my relief – the majority of the action takes place downstage.

The cast, with polished direction from Stephen Daldry, shine in their individual roles, with Tim Treloar portraying a highly energetic and unapologetic Inspector Goole. Jeffrey Harmer also stands out as Mr Birling, bringing a lovely sense of youth and charm to a role one would often only see as a boring and business focused villain. The stand out performance for me, however, was Leona Allen as Sheila – a strong portrayal of a woman who is still so childlike in her behaviour, desperately yearning to be heard.

The costumes are traditional to the era of the play – the men wear trim suits perfect for a dinner party. Sheila of course wears an all white gown, perhaps signifying her future marriage or perhaps her innocence. It gets dirtied in the rain, however, once she begins to discover the consequences of her past actions – so I would say the latter. Mrs Birling wears a very glamorous deep red and black gown and is well decorated in pearls and other accessories. Such vampish glamour would appear similar to the ‘evil queen’ characters of many fairytale depictions.

Overall, the show is a magnificent spectacle of a classic play that continues to engage audiences. It’s important to note, that every other review I’ve seen – which date back many years – all state the play is ‘more relevant now than ever’. With the gap between the rich and poor arguably being the same now as it was in the time the play is set, that is especially true in this revival. In the 30+ years this iteration of the show has been performed, it appears the class divide has only gotten worse. One hopes a day will come when the play is not as pertinent as it is today.

THE TRUTH ABOUT BLAYDS

Finborough Theatre

★★★

“If you enjoy theatre with a sting in the tail, this revival of ‘The Truth About Blayds’ delivers”

THE TRUTH ABOUT BLAYDS

Finborough Theatre

Reviewed on 13th September 2025

by Hannah Bothelton

Photography by Carla Joy Evans

Previously reviewed at this venue:

THE TRUTH ABOUT BLAYDS

THE TRUTH ABOUT BLAYDS

THE TRUTH ABOUT BLAYDS

AN INSPECTOR CALLS at the Alexandra Palace Theatre

★★★★

“a magnificent spectacle of a classic play that continues to engage”

AN INSPECTOR CALLS at the Alexandra Palace Theatre then UK tour continues

Reviewed on 4th September 2024

by David Robinson

Photography by Mark Douet

Previously reviewed at this venue:

AN INSPECTOR CALLS

AN INSPECTOR CALLS

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