Review: The Deep Blue Sea, Ustinov Studio, Theatre Royal Bath – ‘A truly special production’

Terence Rattigan’s The Deep Blue Sea at Bath’s Ustinov Studio is a shining soap bubble of a play. It turns effortlessly in the air before you, an unpredictable rainbow slipping over its surface, and you are so entranced you dare not breathe.

First staged in 1952, the tale is of that time, with a plot dependent on the post-war period’s cultural constraints and practicalities. But the underlying story is universal and heart-rendingly sad. Bath’s audiences are inordinately fortunate that they can see this outstanding production (with ‘West End’ all over it) in one of the country’s best ‘tiny black box’ venues this May.

The play opens in a mouldy flat with peeling wallpaper. There’s a body on the floor by the gas fireplace, and the neighbours are breaking in. It’s not long before it’s clear Hester – who has survived – meant to gas herself – but why? Has her husband, Freddie, abandoned her? Is he really just away playing golf? As the young married couple from the Home Office fret there’s nobody to care for her, the landlady says, well, “there is her real husband…”

The Deep Blue Sea – Nicholas Farrell as Sir William Collyer and Tamsin Greig as Hester Collyer

And when Hester’s real marital status is unlocked, a mucked-up Rubik’s cube of sadness, unfulfillment, despair, need and tiny, tiny hope tumbles onto the stage.

Hester was married to a knighted judge and ran away with an ex-RAF pilot who’s lost his way and his nerve. That was only 10 months ago, and the thoughtless neighbour has phoned her real husband, told him what’s happened and given him her address. There’s a suicide note on the mantelpiece and Freddie is heading home early.

Felicity Montagu as Mrs Elton and Preston Nyman as Philip Welch

Lindsay Posner directs a great cast in a truly special production. Tamsin Greig (Hester) leads, with Nicholas Farrell (William) and Oliver Chris (Freddie). Around them, the excellently played landlady (Felicity Montagu), the mysterious healer Mr Miller (Finbar Lynch), the officious Home Office official and his currently-patient wife (Preston Nyman and Lisa Ambalavanar) and Freddie’s old RAF chum, Jackie (Marc Elliot).

In many hands, I suspect this could become a hand-wringing, high-pitched drear-fest. But with this talent?

Tamsin Greig as Hester Collyer

Greig makes your heart ache. In her hands, it is not only credible that wealthy, well-connected and happily married Hester has thrown it all aside for her deep, deep love for Freddie; you can see very clearly that she has opened a door in the human experience and walked into another place altogether. Looking back, I’d describe it as genuine ‘artistry’, but sitting in the theatre, I felt only empathy and ‘saw’ the rooms of her new despair.

Farrell’s Sir William is a tender joy. His careful reaching at hope, his wary but respectful hope are far from the bumptious and entitled judge one might have expected. With his performance – and Hester’s clear sense of safety and her warm reminiscences – we can see what a happy and comfortable marriage these two had.

Oliver Chris as Freddie and Tamsin Greig as Hester Collyer

And last, former RAF pilot Freddie. Oliver Chris is pitch-perfect. A man unable to love with Hester’s intensity, he brings out the mother in her, as she fusses him, unable to connect as the lover she needs to be. For all his RAF ‘what-ho’ and jollity, Chris shows us a sensitive man with genuine insight and integrity, and the bravery needed to know when to walk away.

Space forbids the lavish praise that set, costume, lights and sound all merit – and they do. Congratulations to Theatre Royal Bath Productions, and thank you. And to the rest of you – do all you can to get a ticket and catch this beautiful bubble before it pops.

Finbar Lynch as Miller

The Deep Blue Sea is at the Ustinov Studio, Theatre Royal Bath until June 1, at 7.30pm, with additional 2.30pm matinee shows on Thursday and Saturday. Tickets are available at www.theatreroyal.org.uk.

All photos: Manuel Harlan

Read next:

• Review: The Turn of the Screw, Ustinov Studio, Theatre Royal Bath – ‘Beautifully haunting’
• Review: An Inspector Calls, Theatre Royal Bath – ‘A script that’s so clever, it’s timeless’
• Review: Twelve Angry Men, Theatre Royal Bath – ‘Genuinely electrifying’