Mrs.
Warren’s Profession
is being produced at the Lantern Theatre in the St. Stephen’s Church, 10th
and Ludlow Streets, through October 9, 2016.
Written by George Bernard Shaw in 1893, Mrs. Warren’s Profession
explores challenging themes including the plight of the working poor and many
are just as relevant today as they were in Victorian England. Shaw’s play pits
multiple-Barrymore-Award-Winner Mary Martello as Mrs. Warren against newcomer
Claire Inie-Richards as her daughter Vivie Warren. David Bardeen, Andrew Criss,
Daniel Fredrick and John Lopez, all connected to Mrs. Warren in some manner or
another, complete the ensemble cast. The four act play changes locations thanks
to imaginative work of scenic designer Dirk Durossette. Backdrops turn around,
benches are added, “shrubs” are pulled away and book cases reveal an inside
interior as a chandelier is lowered. As in many works that have stood the test
of time, each act builds in intensity. Mrs.
Mary Martello’s flamboyant portrayal of Mrs. Warren’s success and Claire Inie-Richards’
strong, firm portrayal of a “modern” woman’s success are the focus of the first
few acts, along with the interactions of the men in their lives. Vivie has
finally come to terms with the fact that prostitution paid for her college education
because her mother had no alternative way to make a living wage. When she
discovers her mother is still “in the life” the real theatre begins. It is Act
4 that not only shows George Bernard’s Shaw’s brilliance in the writing of this
Victorian masterpiece, but also the depth of the emotional wells of Mary
Martello and Claire Inie-Richards. The dialogue between the two of them is the
most dramatic part of the entire piece, but the facial expressions displayed by
Vivian when interacting with her mother are priceless. Although once banned on
moral grounds, this is undoubtedly one of Shaw’s best works. For more
information or tickets, call 215-829-0395, visit online at www.lanterntheater.org or visit the
Lantern Box Office, 10th & Ludlow Sts, Philadelphia, Pa. 19107.
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