Review by Paul Towers, 11/6/25
Mrs Warren’s Profession by George Bernard Shaw
Directed by Dominic Cooke
Produced by Sonia Friedman Productions
At Garrick Theatre until Saturday 16th August 2025
I admit that, in the past, I have been a bit of a philistine and viewed the likes of George Bernard Shaw as too elite for my tastes. How wrong I was.
Currently being revived at London’ Garrick Theatre, Shaw’s Mrs Warren’s Profession is a delight, even at 1 hour 45 minutes without an interval.
The titular Mrs Warren (national treasure Imelda Staunton) is a business woman with many secrets held from her estranged daughter Vivie (her real life daughter Bessie Carter). The elder Mrs Warren, Kitty, has grown from being a prostitute to the part owner of a string of high class brothels across Europe. While not proud of the means by which she has progressed, Kitty is not ashamed. A poor childhood has propelled her to achieve what many women of the late 1800's could not. Independence.
Vivie has just come down from university, paid for by her mother’s ill-gotten gains, to get better acquainted with her often absent parent. Being a highly principled, intelligent independent young woman she is torn between admiration for how her Mother has bucked the system and the way she has earned her money. Money which she views as tainted even though it has paid for her education.
This is a very rare opportunity to see the pairing of Mother and daughter on stage and one to be savoured.
A stella cast including Staunton, Carter, Robert Glenister (the vile Sir George Crofts) and Kevin Doyle (an hilarious vicar caught with his metaphorical trousers down) are joined by the young Reuben Joseph (Frank Gardner) and Sid Sagar (Mr Praed).
A clever set comprising a huge revolving circular garden is gradually stripped by coteries of hand-maidens to indicate the passing of time. Until finally the bare stage has a curved wall lowered behind it to become the office that Vivie retreats to and where she and her Mother have their final stand-up row, thus severing their relationship.
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