By Peter Maddern
High society has as many risks as it does attractions and with Philadelphia’s Lord family enough stories to keep the gutter press thriving, whether in Pittsburgh, New York or anywhere else in the United States. And who needs social media when two journalists turn up a day before Tracy Lord’s proposed second wedding to capture it all under the guise of being Tracy ex-husband’s (Dexter’s) friends.
Written in the 1930s by Philip Barry, The Philadelphia Story plays to the playwright’s social commentary strengths with less than flattering portrayals of most of the characters, yet we keep up our inner hope that all will work out well for Tracy (Lauren Renee) and her fiancé, the straight laced up and comer George Kitteredge (Brad Martin).
Director Kerrin White has chosen an orthodox retelling of this yarn though its possibilities for being adapted for the current time and another location are delicious. His and Vincent Eustace’s set is luscious – the drawing room well appointed, orderly and dripping with respectability and the garden back-dropped by ivy but open in front of it for endless possibilities as the night and then next morning arrive.
Much is asked of Lauren Renee in the lead role and she delivers a strong performance that encapsulates a required socially solid veneer that adorns a wild spirit. James Whitrow as her unexpected suitor, Mike Connor, one of the two journalists, also commands the stage with two-faced bravado that sits well with his character’s somewhat desperate career and financial position.
Amongst a more than satisfactory set of performances, Henny Walters’ Dinah, Tracy’s loose lipped younger sister is a delight who captured the imagination of the opening night audience and John Leigh Gray as Uncle Willie is also excellent as the well-meaning family member who quickly becomes very uncertain just what role he is meant to be playing in the series of intrigues that roll out.
A fine night’s entertainment, with a preference for seating in the front half of the Arts Theatre as its area challenged some of the performers for getting their lines across to the paupers at the rear.
Kryztoff Rating 4K
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