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by Tahrea Maynard

Columbus Civic Theatre continues continues with the second weekend of George Bernard Shaw’s comedy, Candida, running Thursdays through Saturdays. To toast the new space at 3837 Indianola Ave., CCT opened its doors March 11th to mark the new beginning with wine and various goodies for a delighted audience, including this reviewer and few colleagues. The new compact CCT space is a renovation in progress, still boasting bare drywall, disassembled chairs, the smell of sawdust.

These details however, are long forgotten as soon as the play begins. Though Candida centers on the uncomfortable love triangle between the main character, Candida (Britt Kline), young poet Eugene Marchbanks (Doug Mondell), and Candida’s husband, Reverend James Mavor Morell (Ben Gorman), Shaw also smoothly inserts social and political commentary pitting Morell, a Fabian socialist, against Burgess, an unwavering capitalist- issues surprisingly topical given the current political climate in this country.

Now, these political subjects may seem uninteresting or downright boring to those expecting to attend a comedy, but rest assured there is nothing boring about this particular show.  Audience members may remember Kline and Gorman’s pairig in CCT’s 2009 production of A Doll’s House. They may also recall the splendid job the two did performing as husband and wife in an emotionally broken and tense marriage. In Candida, the duo again plays husband and wife, rekindling their easy onstage chemistry, only this time they portray a couple in a drawn out emotional chess match. These talented powerhouses gobble up Shaw’s words. Kline  exhibits fearsome strength as she interacts with Mondell’s Marchbanks, a young poet who has the misfortune to have fallen in love with caustic Candida. Mondell does well in this character, flouncing into chairs, moping about, and utilizing tragically hackneyed words of love in attempts to woo her away from what he feels is a dull and loveless home.

Comedic elements in this production also come from the rest of this wonderful cast: Rachel Mock, Todd Taylor, and Shane Egan. Mock portrays Morell’s faithful and no-nonsense typist Proserpine “Prossy” Garnett. Mock delights, using her harsh clicking of the typewriter and a haughty demeanor to convey crystal clear emotions every moment she takes the stage. Prossy’s single moment of lowered inhibitions and giddiness, though full of infectious giggles misses the mark in that Mock seems to play what should be a moment borne of drunkenness too steadily and too cerebrally. Otherwise, this CCT newcomer does the role justice.  Taylor as Morell’s assistant, Reverend Alexander “Lexy” Mills, stamps the small role with a sweet and charming goofiness.  Shane Egan plays Burgess, a character who demands respect and attempts to be classy with laughable results. Egan’s superior vocal work and inventive physicality help Burgess stand out as a hilarious audience favorite.

Technically speaking, CCT settles well into its new space.  The lighting includes slight shadowing of faces downstage, but this is no major distraction from Melinda Anderson’s wonderful costuming or Jon Anderson’s simple and well-dressed set. The small stage allows for ample space for the authentic setting and boasts great acoustics and sightlines.

Candida continues this weekend, Friday March 12th and Saturday March 13th in the new CCT space. If you cannot make it to this outstanding production this weekend, clear your schedule this month to come out and support these fine actors and this wonderful theatre company.

*******

Tahrea Maynard has just finished directing her  third children’s production with Roundtown Players, where she has been a board member for six years. She also frequently appears in productions with Rosebriar Shakespeare Company. Tahrea also teaches Musical Theatre classes with the Charmion Performing Arts Center in Circleville. check out her director’s blog and personal blog.

by Krista B. Threadgill

I’ll be honest—Thursday was not a good day for me. Traffic woes, meetings running over, and nasty weather were more than enough to spoil my mood before reporting to Columbus Civic Theatre to see a play that I knew little about (shameful for someone with an English degree) in a location I knew even less about. After driving past it twice, I finally found CCT’s new home: a converted doggy daycare nee garage. After sinking into the most comfortable seats I’ve found in any theater in the metro area, all of the cares and stresses of my day evaporated as George Bernard Shaw’s Candida came to life before my eyes.

Shaw wrote Candida as an answer to Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, which CCT produced last fall. In Candida, we meet James Morell (Ben Gorman), a pastor with a full speaking calendar, and his typist, Prossy (Rachel Mock), who is secretly in love with him. After a three-week absence while their children were ill, Morell’s wife Candida (Britt Kline) is returning home, much to his delight and Prossy’s lament. Candida’s capitalist father, Burgess (Shane Egan), is also happy to hear that his daughter is coming home as he’s hoping that she might use her influence over her husband to help him secure some manufacturing contracts. Meanwhile, the young Eugene Marchbanks (Doug Mondell)—a family friend—has decided he is in love with Candida, despite their great age difference and Candida’s inconvenient marriage; and Morell’s protégé, Lexy Mill (Todd Taylor) is doing his best to emulate everything about his boss. It’s up to Candida to set everything back to rights while balancing the fragile male egos around her.

Rich Albert directs a fine cast through this incredibly funny script. Kline’s Candida is spirited and engaging, and her final speech to her dueling suitors is both endearing and playful. Mock’s Prossy is wonderful; she is able to shift from prickly irritation to sentimental warmth in the blink of an eye and with utter believability. Mondell, making his debut with CCT, has pitch-perfect timing with Eugene’s socially awkward moments. Mill’s comedic pacing with Lexy is fantastic, and Egan’s performance is also outstanding. The director chose to have the actors use only slight British variations on certain words and phrases rather than full-on accent reproduction, which is pleasing to the ear and a welcome departure. As a whole, the cast performs well together and has the audience rolling in the aisles as they animate Shaw’s words.

The set, designed by Jon Anderson, is a nice recreation of a turn-of-the 20th-century study with lovely Persian rugs and tapestry-covered chairs. Overflowing bookcases and an antique typewriter complete the look. Melinda Anderson’s period costumes are beautiful in design and flattering in construction. Rich Albert also designed the lighting, which is simple and effective. The musical selections between acts are lively and period-appropriate.

Despite a rough day, a leaky roof, and some of the worst traffic I’ve ever seen that wasn’t snow-related, CCT’s production of Candida washed away my troubles and left me smiling long after the curtain closed. Although the new space is still a work in progress, CCT are building a lovely new home. Overlook the plaster dust, partially installed seats, and unpainted drywall and experience an excellent company producing a wonderful show. I can hardly wait to see what they have in store for us next.

*****

Krista Threadgill spent her childhood following her parents around the Actors Guild of Parkersburg. After that, she wiled away her summers at Jenny Wiley Amphitheater, and she has performed in two Neil Simon plays. She has an English degree from the Ohio State University.