Candida
George Bernard Shaw was born in Dublin in 1856 to a poor family (his father was a drunkard). But despite his early years, Shaw became a dramatist, literary critic and a leading playwright of the 20th century. He was liberal in his thinking and concerned with women's rights. This explains the subject of his play Candida that is playing at The Colony Theatre in Burbank.
Morell (Mark Deakin) is a preacher and lecturer of some fame. He is married to the lovely Candida (Willow Geer) and holds her in such high esteem almost to the point of worshiping her. Their marriage has been a good one until Candida meets and befriends an innocent and insecure man, Marchbanks (Johnathan McClain), a young poet. Marchbanks falls in love with Candida and decides that he must fight to win her away from Morell. This puts a strain on the marital relationship and Morell begins to wonder if Candida does indeed love him. But Candida is the main character that Shaw created to show that, through her femininity and strength, she can handle both males. With utter control of the situation, she makes her choice between the two men.
McClain as Marchbanks plays the young poet too much as a bumbling fool almost beyond believing that Candida would ever consider him as her choice. Kate Hollinshead as Morell’s secretary Proserpine (Prossy) is spunky and cute.
Other roles include Matthew Henerson (Burgess, Candida’s father) and Gabriel Diani (Lexy, a friend). The production is under the direction of Kathleen F. Conlin. The splendid set is by Michael C. Smith, costumes by Sherry Linnell. I have to express doubt as to why The Colony Theatre chose Candida as one of their offerings for this season. I found it so full of rhetoric as to become tedious and wearisome, particularly the long first act making it difficult to stay focused on the play. Fortunately, the second act picks up and becomes more interesting and easier to watch.
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Theater: The Colony Theatre, 555 North Third Street, Burbank, CA
Web Site: http://www.colonytheatre.org
Tickets: (818) 558-7000, ext. 15
Dates: through Sunday, March 8, 2009