Five Wives of Maurice Pinder

Five Wives of Maurice Pinder

Genre: Drama
Opened 20 June 2007
Written: by Matt Charman
Directed: Sarah Frankcom
Produced: National Theatre
Cast: Sorcha Cusack, Adam Gillen, Carla Henry, Clare Holman, Martina Laird, Larry Lamb, Tessa Peake-Jones, Steve John Shepherd
Synopsis: Takes a provocative look at married life, and the alternatives. No family photograph can truly prepare Rowena for her first meeting with Maurice's three wives and teenaged son. Young, nervous and extremely pregnant, she is warmly welcomed into the fold but her presence soon has the family questioning the nature of their delicate balance. Then Fay brings home a one-night stand, with far-reaching consequences for them all.

What the critics had to say.....
MICHAEL BILLINGTON for THE GUARDIAN says "[Matt] Charman simply presents us with a set of irreconcilable attitudes to the subject of polygamy...the play raises valid issues about the limitations of monogamy." KIERON QUIRKE for THE EVENING STANDARD says, "Interesting stuff." PAUL TAYLOR for THE INDEPENDENT says "Matt Charman's strange, funny-sad, intriguing second play offers an ambivalent look at what we mean by family and marriage...lucid, well-acted production." CHARLES SPENCER for THE DAILY TELEGRAPH says, "Irritating and pointless play." ALEKS SIERZ for THE STAGE says, "Charman displays immense emotional intelligence in his account of the strains and conflicts experienced by this alternative to normal family life." BENEDICT NIGHTINGALE for THE TIMES says, "The play has its longueurs and its implausibilities."

External links to full reviews from popular press
The Independent
The Guardian
Daily Telegragh
The Times

Originally published on

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