April
11/13 – Our Betters
– for some reason the Shaw Festival's production of Somerset
Maugham's “Our Betters,” comes off like a very early dress
rehearsal. None in the cast seems comfortable in their role, or are
at all believable in the parts they are playing. Not once did they
feel like real people in genuine situations. When the sets and
costumes steal the show, there is something wrong. The Art Deco sets
by Ken MacDonald are a sight to behold, nothing has been spared, and
also the wonderful art deco costumes which look like they are
original Erte sketches, by Charlotte Dean are quite spectacular and
very real looking, even from the third row. To me the great problem
is Morris Panych, a darling of Canadian stage, but he and I have
never seen eye to eye, I was bored silly by The Overcoat, in spite of
the critical acclaim, and most of his other productions seem to have
lacked “spark,” at least for me. But I also must admit I have no
great memory of either of Shaw's presentations of Maugham's “The
Constant Wife,” or “The Circle,” so obviously was not that
impressed by them either. Drawing room comedies need the great wit of
a Noel Coward, or a George Bernard Shaw. This play is certainly no
Private Lives or Blithe Spirit. I also do not feel there will be any
improvement as the actors mature in these quite unbelievable roles.
