Quality Street review

Sansom’s production leans a bit too heavily into the pathos of Phoebe’s situation to begin with. But once the action shifts to the social gatherings where her deception plays out, and the comic complications start piling up, the staging finds its feet. There is real delight to be had from watching a cast so perfectly attuned to the rhythms of the light farce and witty, drawing-room comedy in Barrie’s Regency-set story. 

Among a strong cast, Gilly Tompkins and Jamie Smelt standout with well-defined comic supporting turns as Phoebe’s forthright housekeeper Patty and the town’s boozy, bombastic recruiting sergeant respectively. Louisa-May Parker also impresses as Phoebe’s loving, spinsterish sister Susan, as adept at portraying the character’s innate sadness and regret as she is at raising laughs from the panic and confusion caused by her sister’s machinations. Aron Julius also strikes the right note as Phoebe’s cocky love interest Valentine, whose outgoing, boisterous nature hides a soft, considerate centre.

Jessica Worrall and Lis Evans’ touring set looks a bit sparse in the New Vic’s in-the-round performing space, but the cast are deployed to great effect in the spirited dance sequences, where Ben Wright’s infectiously foot-tapping choreography incorporates everything from square dancing to disco. Worrall’s bright, sweet-wrapper-like dresses and primary-coloured military uniforms also perfectly match the show’s comically heightened, enjoyably playful and mood-lifting tone.