The Vic’s ‘Sea Lady’ examines life on land

By Eric McCrea

entertainment@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

The Victorian Players have brought to the stage a classic novel by H.G. Wells, which takes a fantastic leap into satire.

“The Sea Lady” explores societal expectations in turn of the century England. The Victorians’ production was adapted for the stage by Thomas Copeland, who also directs the play.

While enjoying a day at the beach, the Bunting family rescues a drowning woman, only to find out that she is, in fact, a mermaid. The Sea Lady, played by Connie Cassidy, claims to want to spend time on land, becoming part of proper society. The Buntings allow her to stay with them, but disguise her unfortunate half, deciding it best for people to think she is an invalid instead of a fantastic creature. Miss Waters, as the mermaid is called, is aided by Mr. Melville (John Dalbec) as she explores life on land, discovering the vast differences between wet and dry life. Eventually, her true intentions are revealed and the young politician Harry Chatteris (Tom Kusiowski) becomes entangled in a romantic mess.

Cassidy was charming in the title role. She was sweet and dulcet, with an air of magic. She countered this charisma with a stern demeanor when called upon.

Dalbec was solid as Mr. Melville. He was involved in most of the scenes and carried the weight admirably. He was dry, but succinct, which was a great quality to have in this show.

Rosalyn Blystone was exceptional as Adeline Glendower, the fiancee of Chatteris. Her purpose seemed to be to provide information about her groom-to-be, before his appearance later in the play. She was wonderful in each of her scenes and had a way of bringing out the best in her scene partners.

Kusiowski played an important role, but his dialogue felt repetitive and circular. It didn’t hold interest and slowed the pace of the show. Despite this, Kusiowski delivered his lines capably.

Some scenes ran on the long side and seemed to take their time getting to the point. In the third act, the script became prose-heavy, which didn’t necessarily make for great interaction between characters. While eloquent and endearing, it was not compelling.

There were a few great scenes that stood out. An appearance by Trudy Mason as Lady Poynting Mallow was especially amusing as she bantered casually with Dalbec. Blystone and Cassidy had a remarkable rapport, along with Lynne Peterson who played Mrs. Bunting.

Another strong point of the evening was the atmosphere. Music selected for the show enhanced the ambiance of the theater. A simple but open set was a great use of the space and had a silent movie-era aesthetic.

“The Sea Lady” will continue Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at Victorian Players Theater, 702 Mahoning Ave., Youngstown. For reservations, call 330-746-5455.