Roger Allam shines in a clever comedy that is clearly of its time
⭐⭐⭐
What's it about?
Written by Alan Ayckbourn in 1969, How the Other Half Loves is one of the playwright’s early successes and a classic British comedy of marital misunderstandings, infidelity and increasingly complicated lies.
The story follows three couples whose lives become entangled when Fiona Foster, married to company boss Frank, has an affair with his employee Bob Phillips. When the pair invent an excuse for their suspiciously late night, the innocent William and Mary Featherstone are unwittingly pulled into their deception.
Ayckbourn cleverly places two households on stage simultaneously, with the action taking place across different locations and even different nights at the same time. Most famously, two separate dinner parties unfold around the same dining table – an ingenious theatrical device that drives much of the play’s comedy and confusion.
What we loved
The star of the evening is undoubtedly Roger Allam. He is so perfectly suited to the role of Frank Foster that, at times, it feels as though Alan Ayckbourn wrote the part with him in mind. From his impeccably dry delivery to his wonderfully ordinary physicality, Allam inhabits Frank with complete conviction. Every glance, pause and perfectly timed line lands effortlessly, particularly in Act Two, where he delivers some of the play's funniest moments. Allam remains consistently compelling and is the principal reason the comedy continues to sparkle.
Continuing the ‘in the round staging’ at the Old Vic in 2026 works particularly well for this production, allowing the focus on all three couples to rotate. The use of a single dining table shared by two different households is clever, allowing scenes from separate homes and times to occupy the same physical space.
Rob Howell's costume design adds another layer to the comedy, firmly placing the production in its late-1960s world while giving each character a distinctive visual identity. Pattern features heavily: in the opening scenes, stripes seem to be everywhere, before giving way to an assortment of increasingly bold prints and patterns. It's a playful detail that complements the heightened domestic world of the play.
Anything we'd change
The play itself now feels very much of its time. Much of the humour relies on the dynamics between husbands and wives, and many of those relationships feel dated for a contemporary audience. As a result, some of the comedy no longer lands with quite the same impact.
Who would enjoy it?
Fans of classic British comedies and Alan Ayckbourn's work.
Who Created It?
How the Other Half Loves was written by Alan Ayckbourn. This Old Vic revival is directed by Phillip Breen, with set and costume design by Rob Howell, lighting by Johanna Town and sound design by George Dennis.
Verdict
How the Other Half Loves contains an undeniably clever theatrical idea at its heart, but this revival struggles to overcome the age of the material. Roger Allam delivers many of the evening's funniest moments with impeccable comic timing, reminding us just how sharp Ayckbourn's writing can be. However, the dated relationship dynamics has lost some of its original appeal.