Review: LADY WINDERMERE'S FAN - Awakens the Wilde Spirit

Sirius Theater's production of LADY WINDERMERE'S FAN by Oscar Wilde, playing a short four performance run at City Theatre, is an admirable company premier. While there are obvious difficulties in the show, the newcomers to the Austin theatre scene pull off a traditionally difficult production with style.
Oscar Wilde's play, first performed in 1892, satirizes manners as well as society's moral double standard with biting wit and keen insight. Wilde's work is so famous there is a medical condition called 'Lady Windermere Syndrome', named for the show, which afflicts women who suppress the need to cough in public (a social faux-pas) causing a deadly lung condition. The play centers on Lord and Lady Windermere (Rachael Shaw and Kevin Meyer), the golden couple, just two years married with a six month old son, they seem to have it all. Attractive, wealthy, and intelligent they have a social standing that sets the tone for their peers. The conflict comes when society matron, the Duchess of Berwick (Kelly Pajares) and love struck, Lord Darlington (Dave Yakubik) let the innocent Lady Windermere in on the latest gossip surrounding her husband. It seems that Lord Windermere has been spending a great deal of time and money on an infamous woman, Mrs. Erlynne (Molly Casey Chapman). Overwhelmed by suspicion and being forced to admit her rival to her own birthday party, Lady Windermere makes a devastating decision. "It takes a thoroughly good woman to do a thoroughly stupid thing", Mrs. Erlynne says as events turn in an alarming direction. On the surface plays by Wilde seem simple and effortless to perform, nothing could be farther from the truth. Timing, pitch perfect delivery and a lightning pace are all requirements for LADY WINDERMERE'S FAN and its more popular cousins THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST and AN IDEAL HUSBAND. These plays must be performed as the proverbial duck on the water, smooth sailing on the surface, while actors are paddling like mad beneath.
While the show program credits no Director it is obvious that a steady hand was at the helm for this production. The setting for the play is traditionally the late Victorian era, Sirius Theater moves the action to the 1920's. This update works on many levels as the moral code of high society saw little change in the thirty intervening years. A similar setting was also used in the 2004 film A GOOD WOMAN, based on LADY WINDERMERE'S FAN and moved to the 1930's.
The leading cast members give top notch performances. Molly Casey Chapman shines as as Mrs. Erlynne, her obvious relish in the role is a joy to watch. Dave Yakubik is witty and urbane as Lord Darlington. Rachael Shaw in the title role plays the heroine well, strong and conflicted without being whinny. The outstanding performance of the evening is turned in by Kelly Pajares as the bombastic Duchess of Berwick. Pajares gets the most out of a minor character and the audience awaits her next entrance with eager anticipation. As a one of the gentlemen friends of Lord Windermere, Cecil Graham (Bill Newchurch) has brilliant moments with some of Wilde's best lines, "Whenever people agree with me, I always feel I must be wrong."
Unfortunately the vocal volume of several actors was very low, especially in some of the more intimate scenes. Costumes, for the most part, were lovely, but a bright turquoise dress shirt worn by Lord Windermere virtually screamed 'modern' as did his light blue shoes. The complete lack of a suit jacket for Lord Augustus (Jerry Juliano) was disconcerting as was his too casual attire for the final scene, no gentleman in the 1920's would go calling without being perfectly dressed. The set pieces worked well for the morning-room and drawing-room of the Windermere home, but no attempt was made to change the look when the action moved to Lord Darlington's rooms. Audience members who were unfamiliar with the play were confused by the decision not to differentiate location by changing furniture or by other means. However these were mere distractions and failed to tarnish an otherwise solid performance.
The production as a whole was enjoyable to watch and certainly worth seeing. I, for one, will await future productions from Sirius Theater with great anticipation.

LADY WINDERMERE'S FAN by Oscar Wilde
Sirius Theatre production playing at City Theatre September 24 - 27.
Running time: 2 hours 15 minutes with one intermission.
Tickets: $5.00 - $25.00 siriustheater.wix.com

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