Gareth's Culture and Travel Blog

I’ve always wondered why this early success by favourite playwright Terence Rattigan is rarely revived. I’m afraid it hasn’t aged at all well. The characters are mostly unlikeable, the use of French like an in-joke is irritating and pretentious and the story is completely inconsequential. For the second time this week, I find myself disappointed by Rattigan.

It’s set in a house in France where a bunch of five toffs are in residence learning French for all sorts of reasons, including careers in the diplomatic corps. Diana, the sister of one, is along for the ride as she’s nowhere else to go and she’s portrayed as after anyone in trousers. Monsieur Maingot tries in vain to get them to speak only French. The men behave like only public schoolboys can.

It has nothing to say to a modern audience and just comes over as a bit of a romp – a rather sexist, misogynistic one at that. The production and performances are perfectly ok; its the play that’s the issue. After this and Harlequinade in the same week, I think I’ve decided I only like Rattigan’s serious plays, not his attempts at comedy.