Originally published by L.S.Media. June 8th 2012.

L.S. Media Rating ****

Cast: Trevor Eve, Geraldine James, Tom Ellis, Richard E. Grant.

When art imitates life, are those that are the subject of the creative mind really aware of what they have become? This was the question that vexed Geraldine James and Trevor Eve in the latest of series of plays shown by the Sky Arts channel.

Titled The Other Woman, Geraldine James played an actor whose life has long since mirrored that of her screen persona, the long feelings of neglect at the hands of her cheating screen husband, played by the ever suave Richard E. Grant, is becoming all too tangible and real as she sees the same frustrations within her own marriage to the screenwriter who feeds her the lines by day but who then complains that she doesn’t listen to him at night. The screenwriter, portrayed by the excellent Trevor Eve, may be lauded as a scriptwriter for the show but the very real prospect that they both feel the pain of the marriage beyond the one behind closed doors continually spills out for millions to see. It’s this very act of televised and almost narcissistic voyeurism that drives them on, even if they both don’t see it.

There were moments of very touching writing within this half hour, some of the lines delivered by Geraldine James were ones of sheer excellence and the scene where the group of actors are reading through a sudden change in scripts is compelling as Ms. James realises that her voice, long since reduced in its stature to a mere puppet, driven by the thoughts and selfish desires of the writer, is suddenly restored to one where she can call the shots.

The recognition of what her husband/scriptwriter is telling her through her own words is a moment of real pleasure. Although both Trevor Eve and Geraldine James are actors of immense personality, it’s rare to see them play parts that, as a viewer, you can honestly believe is right for them. In Geraldine James’ case it’s a part that is so meaty that it captures her as an actor completely. Not since the Jewel in the Crown or Band of Gold has she played a character that was so well rounded and one that you want to cheer for. Working alongside legends of British television and film in Trevor Eve and Richard E. Grant pulls her into genuine realms of grand dames of the acting world.

A brilliant performance by all four actors in The Other Woman, a superb piece of writing by Joshua St. Johnson.

Ian D. Hall