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By Eric McCrea
By Eric McCrea
Youngstown
“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”
“Lady Windermere’s Fan” is home to some of Oscar Wilde’s greatest lines. However, The Victorian Players’ latest production falls short of greatness.
Margaret Windermere, played by Grace Offerdahl, is a young mother and bride of the mature Lord Arthur Windermere (Carlos Rivera). After meeting with The Duchess of Berwick (Trudy Mason), Lady Windermere discovers that her husband has been paying large sums of money to an unscrupulous woman, and she suspects the worst. She is surprised when the scandalous Mrs. Erlynne, played by Kim Akins, is a welcomed addition to her birthday party. When she is tempted by a romantic proposal from Lord Darlington (Ryan Newell), the Lady wrestles with her uptight Victorian standards. Mrs. Erlynne embraces her tender side when she learns of the young girl’s decision to run off with the wicked Darlington.
Wilde’s satirical take on Victorian society lacked sting. Perhaps due to the change in the times, or perhaps due to the underwhelming performances, the show comes off as a light comedy of misunderstandings with a slight hint of deviousness.
A few bright points stood out in this production. C. Richard Haldi was his usual boisterous persona, and Newell was impressively able to match Haldi’s energy as the young debonair.
Cheri DeGregory was bright and witty as Lady Laura Plymdale.
Tom Kusiowsky as Cecil Graham and Gary Deckant as Lord Augustus both had strong presences on stage which livened up the whole show.
Offerdahl lacked that intangible presence, but the teen actor shows plenty of potential. While many members of the cast struggled with dropped lines, Offerdahl had the strongest confidence and the most consistent delivery.
Rivera was dealing with an illness, which may have contributed to his bland performance and having the most difficult time with the script.
Mason’s portrayal was middle-of-the-road, and while she wasn’t immune to the plague of line issues, she showed a distinct ability to recover.
Akins was full of charm as the villainess, which lessened the tedium of the night, but also diminished the impact of her character’s emotional evolution. A little more venom hidden under that charm would make for a bigger impact.
The creative use of the scenery was a plus for this play, but the cumbersome scene changes were a big distraction, killing any momentum in the show.
The era costumes were a high point. The amount of detail put in the gentlemen’s tuxedos and the ladies’ gowns was a redeeming element.
If you’re a fanatic for Oscar Wilde, this is a great opportunity to view a great classic. If you’re not, this may not be the right entertainment for you.
“Lady Windermere’s Fan” runs Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. until May 18. For reservations call 330-746-5455.