by Ruth Leon
This taut romantic comedy by George Bernard Shaw has been reset from London 1895 to Harlem 1929. In this new production by David Staller, the Reverend James Morell and his wife Candida live a comfortable life until the young poet, Marchbanks, is taken into their home and challenges everything they’ve built their lives upon. It’s a time of global upheaval as six characters come together on one tumultuous day to redefine not only who they are but also how to launch into their futures in a more fully self-aware way. Written as a lighthearted response to Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, this short but pithy play races along in ever-surprising ways. This is the play that inspired the Robert Anderson play, Tea and Sympathy.
I saw this splendid revival live in the theatre when I was last in New York. It was directed impeccably by my friend David Staller, who runs the Gingold Theatrical Group (named after English Actress Hermione Gingold) an admirable company devoted to producing the works of Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw. The Group believes in creating theatre that supports human rights, freedom of speech, and individual liberty, using the work of George Bernard Shaw as their guide.
It was the first company ever to present performances of every one of Shaw's 65 plays (including full-length works, one-acts and sketches). GTG brings together performers, critics, students, academics and the general public with the opportunity to explore and perform theatrical work inspired by the humanitarian and activist values that Shaw championed.
Staller, probably these days the world’s leading expert on the plays of GBS, holds a staged reading every month of one of Shaw’s plays performed by top New York actors. For those who are within easy reach of New York, or visiting, these readings are a treat not to be missed.
In the meantime, enjoy his production of Candida, which ran successfully at an off-Broadway theatre before being filmed and has now been released for streaming.
July 25-30 $25.
First published at Ruth Leon’s blog, Whats Happening in the Arts Online?, July 22, 2023
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