The Deep Blue Sea
This classic Terence Rattigan play, directed by Lindsay Posner originally for the Theatre Royal, Bath stars Tamsin Greig in the lead role of Hester Collyer. It is a study in obsession and the destructive power of love.
Right from the outset, Billie Holliday’s ‘Stormy Weather’ played as the lights go up on the stage, setting the scene for the tragic love story, as well as firmly rooting the piece in the early 1950s. The set, also firmly sets the scene.
Greig gives a heart-breaking performance which is very natural, mostly composed through her English stiff upper lip, but when she breaks, she does so devastatingly. Her clipped accent is still natural and never falls into caricature. Her slide into depression, resigned to the hopelessness of her situation, interspersed with the odd flicker of humour, was very real. The audience feels the claustrophobia of her situation, both in the tiny, rather seedy looking flat, but also in the loveless marriage and now the equally loveless but fiery affair.
As for the rest of the cast, there are no weak links. Particular merit should go to Nicholas Farrell who is exceptional as the solid, dependable, wealthy husband, who is baffled by his wife’s emotions and choices. Selina Cadell as the landlady Mrs Elton, is fabulous. She is a mix of nosey neighbour and meddler, but also clearly likes Hester and wants to do the best for her.
Also highlights, are Hadley Fraser as lover Freddie and Finbar Lynch as Mr Miller. Fraser is very often found in musical theatre, but this play, proves he has great acting skills, as well as a talent for comic timing. His is not the ‘cad’ he might be – but gives a much more nuanced, rounded performance. Lynch also gives a very interesting take on the mysterious Miller. Quirky and full of secrets, his is a character we leave the theatre feeling we’ve only really scratched the surface of.
Rattigan has a reputation for writing well crafted plays. The tragic characters such as Hester, are balanced with the comic and interesting ones such as Mrs Elton and Mr Miller, or Freddie’s friend Jackie Jackson, well played here by Marc Elliott. The play is in three acts, with the interval coming in between act 2 and 3. The pleasure in this is the brilliant writing and dialogue.
I found this to be a thought provoking production, and liked the generally gentle, slow pace, which highlighted the humorous moments as well as the dramatic ones well. It was extremely well acted throughout by everyone, and very well directed by Lindsay Posner.
It is a little old fashioned as a play, but nonetheless some of the themes, particularly around mental health and depression, and also a woman carving her own life apart from her marriage or lover, are still very real. Tamsin Greig really is unmissable in this!
This show was reviewed on the 14th May 2025 at Theatre Royal Haymarket, London where it runs until the 21st June 2025. Tickets available here: The Deep Blue Sea | Official Theatre Website
Review written by Ruth Hawkins
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Photo credit: Manuel Harlan
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