Review of Ilminster Warehouse Theatre's 'Home, I'm Darling'

From Wednesday, April 29, to Saturday, May 2, the Warehouse Theatre on Brewery Lane showcased its newest production, 'Home, I'm Darling', written by Laura Wade, produced by Mick Glynn and directed by Irene Glynn.

Immediately, as I took in the set, containing props lovingly collected across the country by Irene and Mick Glynn and sets designed by Dave Goodall, I was transported to the 1950s - a time the main characters Judy (played by Jennifer Rusinek) and Johnny (played by James Mitchell) have built their identities around.

The pair has immersed themselves in the fantasy, dressing in the clothes, surrounded by the furnishings, the music, and, of course, Judy is the perfect housewife, who cooks and cleans as she waits for Johnny to return from work.

However, as they attempt to navigate through 2026 through a rose-coloured 1950s lens, their idyllic lifestyle quickly begins to pull apart at the seams.

As Judy's mum, Sylvie (played by Olwen Herridge), said: "Nostalgia ain't what it used to be."

I absolutely loved this play. The level of acting produced by the whole cast was phenomenal, and you could really feel the chemistry between each character.

Every time I come to watch a play at the Warehouse Theatre, I am always blown away by the talent and attention to detail that goes into every element, from lighting to set design, to props, to the cast, to hair and makeup.

Not only that, but I loved how the story itself is a thought-provoking cautionary tale and an important feminist commentary, building on recent trends online, such as the 'tradwife' movement and the rise of the 'manosphere'.

One particular moment that stood out was Olwen's monologue as Sylvia, telling Fran (played by Paula Joslyn) and Judy's characters about the realities of the 1950s and grilling their characters for not being feminists - after which she received a well-deserved round of applause.

This included her mentioning the racism, sexism and homophobia that were rampant at the time, and how Judy and Fran's glamorised pin-up version wasn't an accurate reflection.

Sylvia's character shatters the illusion and reminds all of us of an important message, which is that there is no ideal time period to escape to and that no fantasy is worth sacrificing our reality for.

Judy's character was also played extremely well, one that I think the audience loved to hate at times, holding her own in these scenes and arguing that the choice to be a housewife is also one born in feminism.

The play also explores power dynamics, sexism and sexual harassment through the actions of Fran's husband, Marcus (played by Robert Bedford) and brings in elements of victim-blaming culture.

These serious moments rooted the play in realism and showed the audience the true dangers of a 1950s mindset in the present day.

Yet, despite the underlying commentary, the tone of the play was light overall, and there were many comedic elements, especially from Johnny's new boss Alex (played by Kate Hallettt).

I found Alex's character hilarious; she was such a fun presence to have on stage, and every time she had a scene, I would end up laughing - especially when she and Johnny were together.

In summary, this play was a wild ride from start to finish, and I can't praise Irene and Mick enough for pulling it all together.

Overall, I think my feelings can neatly be summarised by the standing ovation at the end. Well done to everyone involved.