Much better than the film: Mrs Doubtfire, at Shaftesbury Theatre, reviewed

Mrs Doubtfire is a social comedy about divorce. We meet Miranda, a talentless, bitter mother, who tires of her caring but imperfect husband, Daniel, and kicks him out of the house on some footling pretext. When Miranda later discovers that Daniel’s loyalty to their children is an asset of inestimable value she invites him back. And he accepts her offer without a murmur of recrimination.

The story is based on the cruel imbalances in family law that entitle a vengeful, heartless woman like Miranda to destroy the emotional wellbeing of her children and her husband, and to call her vandalism justice. In this story Daniel is a voiceover artist who impersonates an eccentric Scottish nanny, Mrs Doubtfire, and persuades Miranda to hire him as their kids’ carer. A neat set-up. It works better as a play than a movie because the nanny’s disguise is more convincing on stage. And the audience is spared the relentless and distressing hyperactivity of Robin Williams, who starred in the 1993 film.

The audience is spared the relentless and distressing hyperactivity of Robin Williams, who starred in the film

The ingenious plot has some exquisite moments. Miranda shares the secrets of her troubled marriage with the wise, kindly Mrs Doubtfire, aka Daniel, who thus discovers where he erred in his marriage and how he might improve his conduct. The audience knows what’s going on. Daniel knows too. Miranda doesn’t. A wonderfully touching scene. The contrary device works just as well. Mrs Doubtfire befriends Miranda’s hunky new boyfriend who outclasses Daniel in every way. He’s younger, richer, better-looking, and he sounds more intelligent (to American ears, at least) because he’s English. Daniel uses Mrs Doubtfire’s persona to sour his wife’s budding relationship and to plant doubts in the boyfriend’s mind about Miranda’s true feelings.