Review: The Constant Wife (Touring)

Monday 26th January 2026 at York Theatre Royal

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The Constant Wife by Laura Wade (based on the comedy by W Somerset Maugham) is a sharp, well-observed comedy of manners. It’s not a laugh-a-minute affair, more a steady trickle of funny one liners and comic set-ups which is most impressive in the consistency of its quality dialogue. A gentle satire poking fun at the whims and sins of the privileged upper classes, there’s plenty to entertain here.

Kara Tointon shines in the role of Constance Middleton, the eponymous wife of this piece (though there’s a nice meta layer around characters heading off to see a play entitled “The Constant Wife”, passing comment on what might be expected from it). Tointon is sharply wry while remaining utterly charming, giving way to snatches of softer emotions beautifully before snapping back to the dignified lady born to withstand such trials as face her; one who has only the dedication butler, Bentley (Philip Rham), to lean on when the proverbial hits the fan. 

Tointon is in excellent company too, with the fiery sister (Amy Vicary-Smith) and lofty mother (Jane Lambert) proving fantastic foils to her composure – and between them offering some sparkling commentary on the world of women, love and marriage. Vicary-Smith in particular is an excellent comic force, perfectly capturing the incredulity of watching the shenanigans passing for dignity when it comes to those at the top wrung of the social ladder. 

Offering yet more satire in the realm of marriage and gender is Gloria Onitiri as the comically careless Marie-Louise Durham – bored wife with too much time on her hands, too much drama in her veins and not nearly enough scruples. Tim Delap is perfectly antagonising as John Middleton, the useless husband barely able to mask his many flaws; Alex Mugnaioni is oddly charming as the tragically amorous Bernard Kersal and Durham Jules Brown completes the picture as the foolishly gallant cuckold, Mortimer. 

It feels like this piece could work both at a great pelt in a faster = funnier approach and one that allows the zingers to linger and the comic tensions to sit; director Tamara Harvey makes the right call in opting to let the cleverness of the writing find footing rather than hurtling onwards unnecessarily.

The Constant Wife is gentle rather than raucous comedy, well-played and constantly entertaining – well worth a visit, this one!

The Constant Wife is at York Theatre Royal until January 31st 2026 – more information and tickets can be found here.