THE BASICS: This year’s entry in the venerable Shaw Rediscoveries series is a 1906 country house drawing room comedy by GBS contemporary, St. John Hankin. Christopher Newton, the former Shaw Artistic Director, directs a cast of thirteen. CHARITY plays in repertory at the Court House Theatre through October 11th (see here). It runs about two hours and twenty minutes with its single intermission.
THUMBNAIL SKETCH: Lady Denison, who has recently fallen under the spell of maverick clergyman Reverend Hylton (of the ersatz Church of Humanity), has taken to inviting hapless and needy strangers to her country home, in the name of True Hospitality. Her pretty daughter Margery is also a Hylton disciple—a natural, selfless do-gooder. The action, what there is of it, centers initially upon problems with the servants, and subsequently upon Margery’s unexpected proposal from Hugh Varreker, a handsome but poor and disgraced former soldier.
THE PLAY, THE PLAYERS AND THE PRODUCTION: Hankin’s act one set-up is indeed beguiling, pitting Hylton’s visionary Christianity against prevailing contrary social practices. Can true charity work in such a selfish world? Are all souls worthy reclamation projects? What happens when doing the good (ie. saintly) thing is not the same as doing the right (ie. just) thing? I could hardly wait for the second act, but, sadly, playwright Hankin leaves us hanging. And, after setting up an obvious romantic triangle that could have lead to a terrific denouement, the playwright opts for a small, emotionally unsatisfying, “realistic” ending. Poor Hylton doesn’t even get a chance to tell his dream girl Margery what he thinks of her, let alone propose! Still, CHARITY has intriguing subject matter and a ready flow of wise and witty observations. No small potatoes.
There are cast deficiencies here, quite unusual for a Shaw production. As Lady Denison, Fiona Reid commands our attention but lacks the dollop of ditziness needed to make the character really work (old film fans—think Alice Brady in MY MAN GODFREY). Julia Course gives the selfless Margery a
lot of sparkle, but the playwright has, for some reason, given us no access into the workings of her heart. Of the various loonies that have invaded Lady D’s house, only Jim Mezon seems to have got it right with his outsized, cartoonish Major Bonsor. Would that Neil Barclay, Donna Belleville and Sharry Flett were even half as funny. This is DINNER WITH SCHMUCKS, 1906, after all. Martin Happer is on the money as Hugh Verreker, the selfish and cynical, spurred to his one good deed by a genuine affection for Margery. Laurie Paton is very good as Mrs Eversleigh, Lady D’s conventional, sensible sister. Graeme Somerville imbues the Reverend Hylton with a quiet warmth and wisdom—a little too quiet, to my way of thinking.
The production values are first rate. Who wouldn’t like such a beautiful drawing room set, or such fetching period costumes? There is even a little obscure (Alwyn and Rojer) but delightful piano music to tickle our musical palettes.
IN SUM: A most intriguing and witty, but I feel flawed play, in an only partially successful Shaw revival. If you are intrigued, by all means go; you won’t see this one offered again any time soon!
*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!