William Boyd’s dark and insightful comedy, The Argument, is all about how apparently trivial and petty disagreements between couples, mask deeper problems which have a habit of bubbling to the surface when least expected. A simple trip to the cinema for Pip and Meredith where she hates the film and he doesn’t, leads to an argument which spills over into a potential marriage-breaker. They both turn to their friends Jane and Tony, who carry on their own part of the argument, followed by Meredith’s parents Chloë and Frank who despite their own less than perfect track record of a marriage, want to advise their daughter on how best to put matters right. It’s a spiky and modern play, hits hard at times and fast paced enough to see through to the end without an interval, with no waning of attention.
The set is very cleverly done, sliding effortlessly between the various apartments and Meredith’s parent’s house, and in each of these somehow an argument breaks out even in the most peaceable of discussions. Alice Orr-Ewing is perfectly cast as Oxford graduate and museum curator Meredith, keen to make sure everybody, especially her husband, Pip, knows she has brains. Pip, played by Simon Harrison, is a good-looking high earner but no match for Meredith’s cleverness and he knows this.
Esh Alladi as Tony, Pip’s best friend and Sarah Earnshaw as Jane, Meredith’s best friend, make the most of their roles and have some of the most amusing situations (Sarah has a secret crush on Pip and Tony believes Meredith made a lapdog out of Pip).
Felicity Kendal as always is marvellous as Chloë, Meredith’s glamourous and world-weary mother, putting up with Frank, played by Rupert Vansittart, her sometime errant husband. Rupert Vansittart puts a fine spin on Frank’s crusty and entrenched views of marriage and the world, and the scene between him and Pip when each admit they don’t like each other much is one that all sons-in-laws/fathers-in-law could identify with.
We enjoyed this very much; the cast are excellent, and the plot packs a punch with a twist in the tale at the end when you least expect it!
Jacquie Vowles