Home, I'm Darling

by Laura Wade

How happily married are the happily married?

Every couple needs a little fantasy to keep their marriage sparkling. But behind the gingham curtains, being a domestic goddess is not as easy as it looks.

Genres: Plays, Theatre, Drama

158 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 25, 2018

Reviews

[Doug · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wade's first play in eight years is certainly thought-provoking and timely in its depiction of how modern insecurities and shifting gender roles have led one couple into totally embracing a 1950's ethos ... and it got rave reviews in its premier production at the National Theatre. However, Jordan Harrison mined the exact same territory 7 years ago in his play 'Maple & Vine', which IIRC, was both more comedic and not quite so didactic. [I'm going to give it a quick re-read, since I think it will be interesting to compare the two plays.]

[Nadja · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buzzwordathon_May 2021: buzzword_house/home

[Izabelle ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

me when i employ excessive traditionalism to combat late-stage capitalism and it goes awry 😱😱😱

the drama-ification of the phrase “the pendulum always swings back”; best book i've read for school lowkey

[Tori · Rating 3 out of 5]

This felt like a Black Mirror episode for much of the script, but the ending would have been more impactful if it had stuck with those vibes and not had a happy ending.

[Elle's Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

This made me realise how much I missed reading plays. Particularly ones I haven't read before so I didn't know how the story was going to unfold. This play asked a lot of interesting questions regarding what it means to be a partner but also a woman. It brought up a variety of subjects, however, the main theme for me seemed to be identity, and the significance of it. I particularly enjoyed that the female protagonist was 38, as I always feel a sense of you can only really discover yourself in your twenties and it is assumed that by your late 30s you have everything answered. But what if you don't? What if you try something and then want to change your mind? It gave me an incredible feeling of how quick and temporary life can be. There were a lot of complex characters and from first meeting Jude and Johnny it seems as though they have made this exciting choice to live in the 50's. But as the action unravels we realise that most of this experience feels quite performative. The supporting roles in this play were equally as important as the two main characters. Her mother's speech about what the 50s was really like showed how nostalgia usually romanticises the thing it is trying to remember. I felt as though the play raised some important points. It held a mirror up to the audience so that internally they could confront their issues and know it's okay to change your mind or admit you made a mistake. It also felt as though the author was trying to show that a thing which once served you, or was a good idea may not remain that way forever. I enjoyed reading this play and would be fascinated to see how it would be interpreted on stage.

[Claire Eden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wade's fantastic natural dialogue leaps of the page and the characters are equally as well drawn and pose questions about what is a perfect marriage and what happens when you live out your dreams.

[Daria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting concept but a bit boring in practice. It felt like there were some very cool ideas but not a lot actually properly executed, kind of bland, boring pacing.

[Jonathan Daley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve wanted to read this play for a long time, admittedly because it has an intriguing title! It certainly did not disappoint and the text lived up to the truly original set up. Very enjoyable!

[Jennifer Chatten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I enjoyed reading this script.

If you came to the play not knowing the concept, I think the reveal that it is not actually set in the 50s would be a good moment.

Judy, our main character, is set on living in a picture-perfect version of the 50s where she is the perfect housewife. But she is singleminded in her aim and willing to sacrifice a lot to achieve it. It's like putting your fingers in your ears and blocking out reality. We're led to believe that it's her childhood (growing up in a disorganised and sometimes unclean commune) and idolisation of her 50s style father that has driven this, though I didn't find that 100% believable.

There are some thought-provoking passages about whether you can be a housewife and a feminist. Judy has definitely chosen this lifestyle for herself. It makes Johnny feel uncomfortable, if anything. Fran and Marcus are the counterpoint, where Fran is being pushed into the lifestyle by Marcus as a way of controlling her and perhaps because of a sexual fetish on his part. Marcus is also a route into commentary on the me too movement.

There are some stomach-churningly awkward moments between Judy and Alex (her husband's new boss), which I think were cleverly set up. There are a lot of not very subtle messages about how important communication is in a marriage. Judy doesn't communicate well with Johnny and pushes away his attempts to communicate with her, and it is clear that learning to communicate, listen, and compromise is the only thing that will save the marriage. The end is, ultimately, hopeful.

[Cave Empter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wade really sticks the landing here despite taking on some heavy and diverse themes. Choosing traditional gender roles in a cost-of-living crisis, the struggles that come with that and with living under any kind of pretense, the inherent tension of a working/stay-at-home dynamic... There's so much presented in a very naturalistic style that never feels too dense or poorly paced. The leads are both likeable despite clear flaws, and the supporting characters feel well-developed even if they show up for a couple scenes at best.

When so many plays rely on the spinning-out of a personal tragedy, on the growing tension resulting in the Worst Possible Result, it becomes much harder to sell a charming ending — I had teary eyes on reaching the final scenes. Masterful depth of character is what really makes the resolution as believable and touching as it is.

[Ella Catherall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Real rating: 4.5

I was really intrigued by this play when it was first advertised but never got around to seeing it, and so was thrilled when I saw the book for sale in Blackwells the other day so I could finally find out more about it.

It's entertaining and engaging and makes you think about a lot of stuff all at once, which is really enjoyable. I also liked the naturalistic dialogue, and the fact that although the premise is interesting and unlike anything I've read before, it was at no point pretentious, which is often one of my criticisms of plays. There were some points which were a little 'on the nose' with what the points they were trying to get across, but that's my only real criticism.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading a play is always strange, because it relies so much on the element of visualisation, of intonation and voice. However, this one works by its carefully placed cues (the laptop cupboard, the conspicuous mail stored away in a drawer).. It is an interesting take on the wish I had often voiced myself after a stressful work week (“I wish I was a 50s housewife”) and what this would imply in a modern household - its consequences on the lives of this couple and how they interact with the world around them. I would have liked to see the play with Katherine Parkinson.

[Granny Swithins · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think more could have been made of Judy's relationship with her mother (Sylvia) and their differing views of Fantasy 50s vs Reality 50s. Sylvia lands a speech towards the end of the play that cuts through Judy's illusions, but which feels like a bit of an info-dump, it could perhaps have been woven in a bit more skilfully. I also wondered about whether there could have been room for a scene between Johnny and Marcus to foreground the male view of the situation?

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

A play that strums on our feelings about culture change. The simplicity (and sexism) of the 1960s vs. the complexity (and political correctness) of the 21st century. For extended periods of time, I felt very little laughter rippling through me. The cast size is wonderful; parts that showcase strong female actors. I've sent it around the local theatre community to see if it piques anyone else's interest.

[David Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think it's hard to really get the full impact of a play when you just read it as opposed to seeing it performed onstage, so I suspect I would have liked this more if I'd had that opportunity. Still, it addresses some interesting issues surrounding the roles of men and women and how things have changed since the 1950s. I enjoyed reading it.

[Tom Holehan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant social satire about a modern couple living their life as though it were 1950. There are moments of great comedy here but also pathos and exploration of what makes a union a true marriage of equals. Witty and wise. This was produced by the Naitonal Theatre in London in 2019 - would love to know if it has ever had an American production.

[Shannon Geier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting and thought provoking

This story was so interesting and thought provoking. A couple decides to live their lives like they’re in the 50s and how it affects his job, their family, friends and themselves.
Theme: The tighter you hold onto something, the easier it is to lose it.

[Frani Geiger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and thoughtful

Cute story that makes the reader think about why and how we make the choices we make in our lives. Giggles, cringe worthy moments, and a generally solid story. Love the visual aesthetic of the style too.

[Logann Terpack · Rating 4 out of 5]

so my English teacher gave me some plays to read and this was the first one I read and I thought it was so interesting and such a good deep dive into issues like feminism and living in a fantasy I loved it🫶

[Zuzana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Přes počáteční smích divák chápe, že něco s tímhle manželstvím není v pořádku.

[Regret Husk · Rating 4 out of 5]

😳😳😳what if we kissed 😚😚 under patriarchy 😍😍😍😍

[Alisa Mirabella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was reading this as part of a huge pile for my HS students. It was not what I was looking for however it is quite thought provoking and has an interesting cadence to the dialogue.

[Corey Terrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this play! I loved how original it was and how Wade explored themes of marriage, society, politics, feminism but in an exciting and original way. I loved it.

[Andy Kabanoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite an intriguing exploration of gender politics, and a stab at the 'golden age' of the 1950s which was not quite so golden. Look forward to seeing this produced.

[Emily Gonzalez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally read this for a class, but there was nothing that was school like in this. This play did not disappoint in the slightest!

[MJ Jaster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love. Marriage. Insecurity.

[Madeleine Rose Healey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting concept, darker than I thought!

[Noa · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautiful style of writing… suddenly i want to be a director so i can produce this amazing play

[Sheena Larson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having watched and listened to this 100 times - a strong 3 is right. ACT 2 is a great test for Judy but damn, what a strange journey she went on.

[makenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

constantly screaming at judy to get her head on straight through this whole play, sylvia is the goat