Laurie Kynaston in Mates in Chelsea [Manuel Harlan]

I HAD hoped to pay tribute to artistic director Vicky Featherstone’s final production at the Royal Court, but Rory Mullarkey’s lacklustre play about the dissolute upper-class seems terrible misjudged.

It’s supposed to be satire (inspired by Wilde and Wodehouse) but, given the current climate, it’s hard to laugh about a bunch of toffs attempting to hold on to their family castle, however tongue in cheek Mullarkey’s script.

It opens in SW3. Theodore “Tug” Bungay (Laurie Kynaston) has squandered his inheritance and is about to lose his country home. His mother Lady Agrippina (Fenella Woolgar), intends to sell his beloved Northumberland asset to an oligarch.

Soon Charlie (George Fouracres) and fiancé Finty (Natalie Dew) get involved, thinking they know what’s best for their friend. The actors work their socks off and director Sam Pritchard attempts to enliven proceedings, but the writing inhibits any emotional engagement.

Until December 16
royalcourttheatre.com