Last night was my first time at the historic Finborough Theatre in Earl’s Court and I loved it! The evening was a real escape, especially thanks to the production of Cyril’s Success by Henry J. Byron, produced for the first time in London in 128 years. It is produced in the context of FINBOROUGH150, which marks 150 years of the building. This year, they are only staging plays from 1868.
The theatre prides itself on staging new work as well as work that has not been staged for a long time, and the result is refreshing.
Cyril’s Success is the story of Cyril Cuthbert, a writer who has found fame within the circle of theatre managers, critics and actors. His wife is growing jealous of his success, mostly because it means it takes him away from her. On the evening of their wedding anniversary, as Cyril makes very clear that he has completely forgotten the date and goes out to mingle with his peers, she finds a letter and mistakes it for a letter from a mistress. What follows are confusions about relationships and a series of farcical quid pro quos involving ex-spouses, lovers and action behind closed doors in a semi-autobiographical satire about Byron’s trials and joys of marriage and of a life in the theatre. In the end, what is success without a partner to share it with?
