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George Bernard Shaw's romantic comedy, "Candida," is playing at the Festival Theatre through Nov. 23. It is the second of two Shaw plays at the Festival this season. Retiring artistic director Christopher Newton directs the other, "Caesar and Cleopatra," which opened earlier in the season. Incoming artistic director Jackie Maxwell directs "Candida."
"Candida" is set in the unfashionable north-east quarter of London, an area with, as Shaw says in his stage directions, "miles and miles of unlovely brick houses." It is October of 1894 in St. Dominic's Parsonage, home to the Rev. James Mavor Morell and his family. A pleasant, generous, agreeable man of about 40, Morell has strong socialistic views. He is also a good speaker who is sought for public lectures almost every night.
At the beginning of the play, we are introduced to Morell's wife Candida, who is returning home from a stay in the country. She is accompanied by Eugene Marchbanks, a very young poet whom Morell has befriended. Some months past, Morell discovered him sleeping with the homeless in a park. Now Marchbanks has become infatuated with Candida and has no problem telling Morell about his feelings.
Thus the love triangle is established. Candida is eventually asked to choose between her two very different suitors in the last act.
"Candida" has only six characters and one stage setting. Everything takes place in the drawing room of St. Dominic's Parsonage. It is an elaborate, detailed set, capable of transporting the audience to a particular time and place.
Maxwell is right on the mark with direction. What could be a very wordy Shaw play is full of life. It's witty and funny, and the wonderful characters are brought fully to life by some excellent casting and acting.
Kelli Fox plays a warm, mature, motherly Candida, in contrast to the very immature, even childlike, Eugene Marchbanks, played by Mike Shara. Both are excellent, as is Blair Williams as the Rev. James Mavor Morell. Bernard Behrens stands out as Mr. Burgess, Candida's Cockney-speaking father. The cast is rounded out with Laurie Paton as Miss Proserpine Garnett, Morell's secretary, and Todd Witham as Rev. Lexy Mill.
Whom does Candida choose?
The whole point is that she has such a choice, but actually there really doesn't seem to be a difficult decision here. Jackie Maxwell gives us an excellent "Candida," a preview of what's to come as she assumes her role of artistic director next season.
| Niagara Falls Reporter | www.niagarafallsreporter.com | July 23 2002 |