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Regional Reviews: San Francisco An Amiable Production of Oscar Wilde's An Ideal Husband Also see Richard's review of Fetch Clay, Make Man and Patrick's review of Funny Girl
An Ideal Husband is about political corruption—then as now, abhorrent. However, there is an absolute sardonic frisson in Oscar Wilde's farce of late-Victorian values. The plot is full of difficult set-ups, but Robert Currier's production does full justice to its genuine matter. I must admit I would rather see this type of production in the confines of a closed proscenium stage theatre, since the outdoors seem to clash with the intimate, very British story. The farcical drama is slighting stilted at first, but toward the end of the first act the performances of the main characters strike the right balance between pretension and internal openness. Director Robert Currier has assembled a sterling cast of lead actors in this production. Nick Sholley gives an admirable performance as the "ideal" politician Sir Robert Chiltern who is being blackmailed by the venomous Mrs. Cheveley, played splendidly by Cat Thompson as a devilishly yet oddly vulnerable blackmailer. Marcia Pizzo is exceptional as Lady Chiltern, as she watches her "ideal" husband's pedestal degenerating to dust. The confrontations between the husband and wife are beautifully accomplished by the two splendid actors. Darren Bridget has all of the best Wilde witticisms and is outstanding as the effete Lord Goring. ("To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.") The altercation between Lord Goring and Mrs. Cheveley in the second act is skillfully done. Julian Lopez-Morillas once again gives a superlative performance as the Earl of Caversham, father of Lord Goring. He has one of the most striking theatrical voices in the production. Rounding out the lead cast is Kate McGrath as the perky, spoiled Miss Mabel Chiltern, Robert's youngest sister. Jennifer McGeorge as Countess of Basildon and Jane Papish as the Duchess of Maryborough give good performances. Steven Salzman is fun to watch as he is butler to both the Chitterns and Lord Goring. Costume designer Abra Berman has devised authentic Victorian dress for the actors, while set designer Jackson Currier provides a somewhat bare white background that looks like the front of an English country house with paintings on the "windows" of the house. An Ideal Husband runs through September 7th, 2014, at the Forest Meadow Amphitheatre. 890 Belle Ave, San Rafael on the Dominican University of California campus. For tickets call 415-499-4488 or visit www.marinshakespeare.org.
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