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Mrs. Warren’s Profession
By George Bernard Shaw
Directed by David Darlow
Produced by Remy Bumppo think theatre
At Victory Gardens Greenhouse Theater
2257 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chicago, IL
Call 773-871-3000, tickets $36 - $45
Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 pm
Sundays at 2:30 pm
Special Wednesday matinees March 12 & April 4 at 2:30 pm
Running time is 2 hours, 25 minutes with intermission
Through April 22, 2007
“Prostitution is caused, not by female depravity and male licentiousness, but simply by underpaying, under-valuing and over-working women.”
-- George Bernard Shaw in his preface to Mrs Warren's Profession.
"All we had was our appearance and our turn for pleasing men."-- Kitty Warren
Marvelous acting propels Shaw’s provocative comedy
Remy Bumppo think theatre, a Chicago treasure of excellent theatre, has mounted a flawless production of George Bernard Shaw’s social commentary on women’s role in society and the hypocrisy of Victorian England. The play, Mrs. Warren’s Profession, written in 1893, was censored for 8 years before being produced in 1902. It illuminates the struggle woman faced to obtain independence and a decant standard of living versus the choice of morally acceptable roads, such as marriage, to obtain that fulfillment.
Shaw has smart and aggressive woman opposite the typical English men—from the artistic soul, Praed (Donald Brearley) to the opportunistic money hungry Frank (Matt Schwader) to the ruthless, amoral capitalist Sir George (Kevin Gudahl) and the hypocritical vicar, Reverend Samuel (Joe Van Slyke). Shaw is tough on the men as they smugly condescend and try to marginalize their women. Shaw counters that with an intelligent young determined woman, Vivie Warren (Susan Shunk) who is set on becoming an actuarial utilizing her Cambridge degree in mathematics. Vivie holds off advances from Frank, Sir George as she has a rare encounter from her mother who lives on the Continent. Kitty Warren (Annabel Armour) reveals the source of her wealth to Vivie as she admits to being part of “the oldest profession.” Vivie also wants to know who her father is and pressed Kitty for that information. The women are complete characters filled with both feminine charm and fierce ambition.
Shaw throws barbs at capitalism and he makes the case that prostitution did more for women than menial labor at a factory as women could gain immense wealth in pleasing men and that prostitution is, indeed, an industry similar to any capitalist venture. Shaw smartly deals with the dilemma faced by evolving feminist like Vivie as they struggle to make their own wealth independent of men and estranged mothers.
Mrs. Warren’s Profession features wonderful performances from the “A” list Equity players led by Annabel Armour’s stinging Kitty. Armour blends Kitty’s Nuevo refinement to old crude cockney slang. Susan Shunk’s Vivie is filled with deep seeded strength while Matt Schwader’s charm and warmth wins us. Veteran actors Kevin Gudhal, Donald Brearley and Joe Van Slyke render terrific work as Shaw’s comedy still carries enough bite to be relevant today. With authentic British accents and dressed in period-perfect costumes (by Janice Pytel), Mrs. Warren’s Pofession moves us into the stuffy world of late Victorian England. We enjoy each minute from one of the great wordsmiths. Kudos to Remy Bumppo for their continued outstanding productions.
Highly Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date reviewed: March 11, 2007
Jeff Recommended
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