You must have heard the phrase, “What goes around, comes around.” Well, I’m here to tell you that 100 years ago or so, writers were warning us about our society in such a way that it reverberates today. Recently, I’ve encountered not one, but two plays from the period that carry such messages. Glendale’s celebrated Anteaus Theatre, for instance, brings us George Bernard Shaw’s Heartbreak House (circa 1920) about a upper class family gathering at their English country-side estate. Just as he was mimicking Anton Chekhov and his exposures of the Russian upper class, we can understand Shaw’s play in terms of our political class in the current moment.
But rest assured, there is no need to start delving into text-books to understand the situation, Shaw writes, and Anteaus’ artistic Director Nike Doukas has created, an hilarious send-up. Harry Groener makes for a perfect Shaw look-alike as the irascible Captain Shotover, who owns the estate. And the rest of the cast, from the young ingenue Ellie Dunn (Elinor Gunn) to the burgler, Billy Dunn, who purposely gets caught (Alberto Isaac), all have extenuating circumstances that drive them together on the eve of the Great War.
At the base of the frivolity, to unravel who’s doing what to whom, takes the entire first (or so) act. Director Nike Doukas keeps the pace brisk as we learn of Miss Ellie’s officious fiancé, Boss Mangan (Bernard Addison) despite her infatuation with Randell Underwood (Alex Barlas), who just happens to be married to….well, you’ve got to see it! Shaw’s message unfolds in the second act as all the parties weigh in on the issues of the day, which sound suspiciously like the issues of OUR day. Their reaction to the advent of the war is priceless.
All of this unfolds on Anteaus’ spacious set, that Angela Balogh Calin has managed to divide into interior and exterior at once. But it is the costuming by Kate Bergh, and the delicious dialect work, helmed by Sean Spann, that creates the ambiance. As always, lighting (Karyn D. Lawrence) and sound (Carter Dean) are seamless; and kudos to John McElveney for all those early 20th century props!
You must travel back in time in order to finally get a sense of that magic phrase, “What goes around, comes around.” Maybe then you can all get off the merry-go-round.
Heartbreak House continues Fridays at 8 pm, Saturdays at 2pm and 8 pm, Sundays at 2 pm, and Mondays at 8 pm, through Nov. 16th at Antaeus Theatre, 110 East Broadway, Glendale 91205. All Tickets: from $55.00 with discounts ranging from $5.00 off for seniors and $15.00 to 20.00 off for students . For reservations, phone (818) 506-1983 or online at www.antaeus.org.
