THE BASICS: This political fantasy by
Bernard Shaw, written during England’s gloomy, tumultuous Great
Depression, has rarely seen the light of day. The first Canadian
production was, in fact, at the Shaw Festival, in 1986. This new
version, adapted by Canadian playwright Michael Healey, runs in
repertory at the Court House Theatre at Niagara-on-the-Lake, through
October 8th. The play runs 2 ¼ hours with its single intermission.
THUMBNAIL
SKETCH: The action takes place in the cabinet room at Number 10
Downing Street. Britain’s likeable but weak-kneed and dithering Prime
Minister gets a crash course in Marxism, and attempts to turn the
country overnight into a Russian style communist dictatorship. A
variety of colorful visitors, with strongly divergent viewpoints,
descend upon him, but are able to agree on only one thing –this is a
really bad idea! So Sir Arthur Chavender’s revolution is quickly
derailed, but dreams of an imposed, radical revised, utopian society
continue, in the form of a couple of potential in-laws/PMs-to-be…
THE
CAST, THE PLAY, AND THE PRODUCTION: The cast of 15 is generally able,
but not very colorful. Peter Krantz and Steven Sutcliffe share top
billing as the “born again Marxist” PM and his conservative antagonist,
Sir Dexter Rightside. I liked them both, but neither one wowed me.
Shaw vet David Schurmann–as the affable, impoverished Duke of
Domesday–and Cherissa Richards–as Dame Adhira Pandranath, a very
embittered, titled, Indian entrepreneur–get my votes for best in show.
Ben Sanders inexplicably shouts out all his lines as the PM’s son,
David. Mary Haney, so wonderful in DRAMA AT INISH, is wasted here in a
“nothing” secretary role.
Adapter Michael Healey has
started the play in what used to be about its middle, shifting much of
the helpful introductory material into Act II, by means of a massive
flashback. This is bold, but senseless, robbing the piece of its
natural dramatic arc. ON THE ROCKS is talky, yes, but the talk is most
invigorating. Heck, it’s why we came! Happily, there are no long,
uninterrupted speeches to bore us here. Joseph Ziegler’s direction is
most serviceable. There are lots of parallels to our present day world, and we do not miss them. The production values are Shaw-solid, but not exceptional.
FINAL
THOUGHTS: Kudos to Jackie Maxwell and Co. for rescuing yet another
worthy opus from literature’s vast dustbin, and bringing it to our
collective attention. I have a number of quibbles (as you know, unless
you have merely skipped down to this section) but hey, when are you ever
get to see this play again?! Shaw enthusiasts and CNN junkies should
make a special point of attending! Rounding down a little bit this
time, I will give ROCKS a respectable.
*HERD OF BUFFALO (Notes on the Rating System)
ONE BUFFALO: This means trouble. A dreadful play, a highly flawed production, or both. Unless
there is some really compelling reason for you to attend (i.e. you are
the parent of someone who is in it), give this show a wide berth.
TWO BUFFALOS: Passable, but no great shakes. Either the production is pretty far off base, or the play itself is problematic. Unless you are the sort of person who’s happy just going to the theater, you might look around for something else.
THREE BUFFALOS: I still have my issues, but this is a pretty darn good night at the theater. If you don’t go in with huge expectations, you will probably be pleased.
FOUR BUFFALOS: Both the production and the play are of high caliber. If the genre/content are up your alley, I would make a real effort to attend.
FIVE BUFFALOS: Truly superb–a rare rating. Comedies that leave you weak with laughter, dramas that really touch the heart. Provided that this is the kind of show you like, you’d be a fool to miss it!