You Never Can Tell
Written by George Bernard Shaw
Directed by Shawn Douglass
Greenhouse Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln (map)
thru Jan 6 | tickets: $37-$42 | more info
Check for half-price tickets
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High comedy with a side of commentary
Remy Bumppo Theatre presents
You Never Can Tell
Review by K.D. Hopkins
You never can tell what you are going to experience when the lights go down in a theater. The anticipation is always there of finely crafted performances and both cast and crew in sync. My expectations were exceeded by this Remy Bumppo production of You Never Can Tell.
Meet the Clandon family returning from self imposed exile in Madeira. Mrs. Clandon (Elaine Rivkin) is an intelligent and strong-willed woman who feels that everyone is entitled to personal choice in how they live and that women are better off free of the shackles of marriage. (You Never Can Tell is set in an era when women had just achieved some rights in the case of divorce, such as custody of children). Mrs. Clandon has raised her three children in the new modern way of total free expression. Gloria (Eliza Stoughton), Philip (Alex Weisman) and Dolly (C. Jaye Miller) return to England after being raised abroad and set about stirring up the little resort town in which they have settled.
Rivkin is wonderfully arch and crisp as Mrs. Clandon. There is none of the starchiness that is the usual portrayal of a woman in Clandon’s position. The dour and rigid suffragette is nowhere to be seen. It is realistic to think that Rivkin’s character is a vibrant woman in charge of her sexuality and place in society. Here is a woman who will not indulge any sort of abuse or impingement that comes from a traditional marriage. Rivkin is delightful and perfectly cast for the era and the rebellion.
Miller and Weisman as Dolly and Philip are spellbinding to watch. They have such perfect interplay as brother and sister, that one would think they were truly raised together. Their sly exchanged looks and bubbling energy are simply contagious. I can’t help but feel a bit giddy when they are on the stage. They project such joie de vivre and eccentricity individually and as a pair that it does not come across as spoiled or bratty.
Stoughton (as Gloria) is a stunner and perfect for the effect that she has on Valentine (Greg Matthew Anderson). She has the patrician looks and perfect bearing that breaks the heart and engages the mind. Gloria is set to carry on her mother’s work and should be immune to the vagaries of romance. Anderson is sublime as Valentine. He has a very understated wit and very capably puts on the broad strokes for brilliant effect. He and Stoughton are perfect opposite one another.
The incomparable Dale Benson plays William the headwaiter. He was last seen in a gorgeous production of 42nd Street and nearly stole the show. In You Never Can Tell he reaches the heights of the wise and all knowing English servant portrayal. Benson holds his own in the
Doug Hendel is great as the crusty and grumpy Crampton. Hendel imbues his performance with a fine emotional range when dealing with his long missing children. The conflict of wanting to be a part of his children’s lives and his anger of not holding absolute sway is portrayed beautifully.
Rounding out the cast is Peter A. Davis as Mrs. Clandon’s solicitor McComas and Rob Glidden as Bohun the arbitrator. Every performance is sharp and in tune with the dialogue, movement, and blocking.
Shawn Douglass’ direction is even handed and keeps the tone of levity at all times even when there is emotion. Douglass also directed a fine production of Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest with Remy Bumppo. You Never Can Tell is Shaw’s answer to the relative frothiness of Wilde’s (arguably) most famous play. Shaw adds texture and content to what could be a mere confection or comedy of manners.
Kudos to Remy Bumppo for gifting Chicago with this radiant production!
Rating: ★★★★
You Never Can Tell continues through January 6th at Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln (map), with performances Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2:30pm. Tickets are $37-$42, and are available by phone (773-404-7336) or online through Tix.com (check for half-price tickets at Goldstar.com). More info at RemyBumppo.org. (Running time: 2 hours 15 minutes, includes an intermission)
Photos by Johnny Knight
artists
cast
Greg Matthew Anderson (Valentine), Dale Benson (William), Darrin French (Jo, a waiter), Kaitlin Gilgenbach (Parlourmaid), Rob Glidden (Bohun), Doug Hendel (Crampton), C. Jaye Miller (Dolly), Elaine Rivkin (Mrs. Clandon), Peter A. Davis (McComas), Eliza Stoughton (Gloria), Alex Weisman (Philip)
behind the scenes
Shawn Douglass (director), Casey Martin (asst. director), Amy Bertacini (stage manager), Cortney Jackson (asst. stage manager), Lisa Kelly (dramaturg), Timothy Mann (scenic manager), Lee Fiskness (lighting design), Emily Waecker (costume design), Nick Gajary (sound design), Julie Eberhardt (prop design), Jonathan Nook (production designer), Doreen Feitelberg (dialect coach), Johnny Knight (photos)
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