The progressive nature of "Mrs. Warren's Profession" proved to be entirely too advanced for its time. It was written in 1902, and after only one performance was described as "morally rotten," and "revolting" by the New York Herald. The review says the play "glorifies debauchery" and "worst of all, it countenances the most revolting form of degeneracy."
But none of this is keeping Buffalo audiences from enjoying the Irish Classical Theatre Company's current production of the play.
The play tells the story of the affluent young Vivie Warren (Elizabeth Laidlaw), who discovers that her mother, to become well respected and dignified, worked as a prostitute. Kitty (the "Mrs. Warren" of the play's title, played by Josephine Hogan) earns new respect and admiration from her daughter, as Vivie learns the lengths to which her mother went to keep from being a "blue-collared slave" in the factories.
It is blatantly apparent from the first exchange between the rebellious Vivie and her mother's well-intentioned confidant Praed (Gerry Maher) that the play will advance with the speed of a sleepy snail.
Performed as originally intended, "Mrs. Warren's Profession" lacks the spark to be considered a timeless classic a la Charles Dicken's "A Christmas Carol," written during the same time period.
The Irish Classical Theatre Company's cast of six British actors projected the difficult Victorian script with skill, each performer acting their part flawlessly.
Hogan, who has played many other principle roles for the theater company and has won the YMCA's Toast of Buffalo Award for her contribution to Western New York's cultural life, brilliantly executed her role.
Tim Newell, in the role of the uptight Sir George Crofts, was well received by the audience.
The Andrews Theater stage is located in the center of a quaint auditorium with only three rows of seats surrounding it. The intimate setting allows the audience to closely observe every gesture and facial expression of the actors. On opening night, this allowed director Derek Campbell to say a few words of introduction for the show, then present theater sponsors HSBC with a framed "Mrs. Warren's Profession" keepsake.
Minimal props were used, since the set, designed by David Butler, made behind-the-scene prop changes impossible. From the typical garden furniture and small rock walls of the first scene, which takes place in Vivie's garden, to the interior sets designed for the second act's cottage interior and London chambers, Butler's props set the mood for each scene.
Lighting designer Brian Cavanagh did a fabulous job illuminating the garden scenes and in scene two, darkening the room to appear as if it was only lit by the moon and the candles lit inside the house.
The ideas presented by playwright George Bernard Shaw were not morally acceptable by early 1900 standards, and the play was banned from its first performance until 1985, when previously "questionable" values began to be accepted. At that point, London's cultural magazine Time Out hailed the script as "an uncompromising, progressive, political piece full of passionate conviction."
The roundabout Victorian speech and slow pace of "Mrs. Warren's Profession" might keep it from being the typical college student's cup of tea, but the more sophisticated older crowd in attendance certainly enjoyed the morally debatable content of the play.
The Irish Classical Theatre Company will be performing "Mrs. Warren's Profession" through May 18. For student tickets contact the ICTC box office at 853-4282.
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
