UPlayers entertain with dark comedy
By Josh Kolm
Lance Writer
November 25, 2009
 In 1919, George Bernard Shaw finished “Heartbreak House,” an attack on the (mostly English) society of indulgence and apathy that he believed allowed the first World War to happen. The University Players’ rendition of Shaw’s satirical masterpiece adeptly engages its audience to consider whether the same attacks could be levelled against certain people today.
Ellie Dunn (Daiva Zalnieriunas) is invited into the home of cranky yet sagely former sailor Captain Shotover (Davydd Cook) by her friend/his daughter, Hesione Hushabye (Alex Leafloor). Hesione, lustful and alluring, has invited Ellie and her father (Mateusz Lawrynowicz) to the home in an attempt to convince them both that Ellie’s intended marriage—to a man she doesn’t love—is a bad idea.
It is revealed that Hesione’s husband Hector (Eric Finlayson) has been wooing Ellie for months with extravagant stories under a fake name. Hesione doesn’t seem to mind, possibly encouraging Hector’s behaviour and she herself goes about tempting and playing with the affections of the males around her.
Ellie quickly proves herself to be far less innocent and romantic than she seems. Even though she failed to see through Hector’s façade, she able to string prospective husband Boss Mangan (Chad Thurlow) along as she wishes, to the point that the once brash and sinister industrialist is broken down and sobbing.
And, despite the importance of the situations they find themselves in, they find it more prudent to melodramatically woe about the natures of men and women.
The play has long been considered one of Shaw’s best, and while it was written for early 20th-century Europe, it is still relevant to the ever-present list of issues affecting the world today.
The idea of not seeing a disaster coming until there are people who have actually exploded is as relevant now as in post-World War society. We see it portrayed through the deception, shallow relationships, and false identities of Shaw’s characters.
What should be engaging the viewer to consider this are the performances directed by Brian Rintoul. And even though some stand out over others, they are all adequately engaging. Davydd Cook’s performance—a constant scene-stealer—can’t be blamed for a bit of inconsistency, especially while playing a character more than 50 years older than he is. The moments where you notice the latex on the balding-crazy-man wig are brief, since the delivery on the Captain’s yelling, impassioned speeches and the throw-away responses to other characters’ tribulations are both terribly moving and absolutely hilarious.
It is easy to compare the Players’ production of “Heartbreak House” to the rendition of “Noises Off” they opened their season with. However, the plays—a pair of comedies set in Britain—require very different things from their director and actors. While the characters are less engaging, that seems to help since there are serious matters at hand being treated like passing annoyances by the self-engaged society-types.
Leafloor, Finlayson, and Caleb McMullen give equally proficient performances despite playing very different characters. Just because the comedy is darker and the laughs are less doesn’t make this production any less entertaining.
The University Players’ production of George Bernard Shaw’s “Heartbreak House” runs until Nov. 29 at the Essex Hall Theatre. Shows start at 8 p.m., with the exception of the 2 p.m. Sunday matinee.
For more info and to purchase tickets, call the box office at 519-253-3000 ext. 2808 or visit www.uwindsor.ca/universityplayers.
|
