Here’s my review of Misalliance by George Bernard Shaw currently running at Center Stage theater in Baltimore, October 3-November 2, 2003. The play was directed by Irene Lewis.

MISALLIANCE

THE CAST (in order of speaking)

Trent Dawson
JOHNNY TARTLETON

Andrew Weems
BENTLEY SUMMERHAYS

Stacy Ross
HYPATIA TARTLETON

Patricia O’ Connell
MRS. TARTLETON

George Morfogen
LORD SUMMERHAYS

Peter Van Norden
MR. JOHN TARTLETON

Eric Sheffer Stevens
JOEY PERCIVAL

Natalija Nogugulich
LINA SZSZEPANOWSKA

Carson Elrod
GUNNER

I admit I wasn't in a mad rush to see this play. The last Shaw play I saw was Mrs. Warren’s Profession. In my opinion that play felt preachy. It wasn’t as funny as I thought it would be also the ending felt a little off. So it was with great trepidation that I approached seeing Misalliance.

I was nearly late for the start of the show. I had about 3 minutes to find my seat. This season it appears I will be sitting next to a tiny elderly jerri curled lady who carries an oxygen tank around with her. When looking around the audience I saw a familiar face in the rows, Barbara. Barb, used to work at Center Stage with me. I hear that she has long since left her job there. Also working as an usher was the guy who used to work at my office in the mail room. His name escapes me. He’s very tall wears glasses looks slightly like Stephen King and sounds like a telephone directory when he talks. I believe he is developmentally disabled....I don’t think it’s nice to call people retarded.

First off I was blown away by the set. I wanted to live there. I really loved the glass ceiling. The set reminded me of the one they had with Travels With My Aunt only more conventional. Set designer Tony Staiges did a bang up job. I loved the effect of the airplane suspended in the ceilingthat signaled the end of act one.

Overall, the play was better than I thought it was going to be. I laughed out loud quiet a bit from beginning to end. The ending to this play did not feel the slightest bit iffy. It only got preachy with the introduction of the character called Gunner played by Carson Elrod. Elrod did well in this small thankless role that seemed only to exist so that Shaw could spout his Socialist beliefs to the audience.

My favorite performer in the play was Natalija Nogulich who played Lina, the acrobat. I felt very empowered by the speech her character gave about being her own woman and not being bought. I wanted to go out and buy a circus outfit and train men all day.

The most famous performer on stage if you watch CBS soap operas was Trent Dawson. He plays shady yet adorable con man Henry Coleman on As The World Turns. I was surprised to see him there as he currently has a storyline running on the show. In hindsight I guess I shouldn't have been all that surprised as I hear soaps are filmed six weeks ahead of air time. Dawson did a fabulous job as Johnny Tarleton the rich boy bully. In my opinion the Johnny Tartleton character was the least developed in the play. It was hard to get a handle on his motivations or even the reason for his existence in the play.

Best stud muffin/male model goes to Eric Sheffer Stevens. He looked absolutely fetching in his aviator suit. His character, Joey Percival, was given a big build up before his appearance on stage. He was known as the boy with three fathers. Male model looks aside Stevens did a fantastic job with his role. He had great comedic timing. I loved the glib deliveries that he gave as Percival.

Best Crier in the play goes to Andrew Weems who played Bentley Summerhays. Weems was outstanding as an over aged cry baby. Whenever he cried I laughed.

Best out of sync costuming detail or error goes to Stacy Ross. I admit that when I first saw Ross take the stage I thought to myself my God! What is the director,Irene Lewis doing on stage? Is one of the actors sick? Then I noticed that she’s a good deal younger than Lewis but looks a little like her. Anyway throughout her entire performance I felt distracted by the fact that she was wearing what appeared to be an earring cuff on her ear. I know this is small but for heaven’s sake that did not style did not exist in the early 1900’s. Oh, well maybe she was running late that afternoon and didn’t have time enough to remove it. She was ok in her role, nothing to write home about. I guess if it wasn’t for that darn earring cuff I might have paid more attention to her.

Favorite Senior Citizen goes to Peter Van Norden. Van Norden did an excellent job as John Tarleton. Van Norden seemed to literally glow on stage. His Tarleton was bright, sprite, and fun.

Overall I loved this play and would recommend it to my friends.