It’s summer
1932 and things appear to be going well for the Ardsley family. The men who
fought and won in WWI came home heroes. Glory held the promise of a bright
future for Britain.
But after 14
years has that promise come true? Blinded by a gas attack Sydney spends his
time knitting. His sister Eva - whose fiancé never came home – devotes herself
to his care. Unmarried and approaching 40, she yearns for more.
Collie spent
20 years in the navy but commanding a destroyer hasn’t prepared him to manage a
business during the Great Depression. War hero Howard has gone back to his job
as a low-class tenant farmer and drinks heavily. His wife Ethel can only
console herself with her children.
War has
changed Britain – and now the Ardsley family must face that change. Somerset
Maugham’s emotional play demonstrates the lasting impact of war on one English
family.
