BWW Reviews: Austin Playhouse Mocks English Virtues with LADY WINDERMERE'S FAN

In the third act of Oscar Wilde's comedy Lady Windermere's Fan, Lord Darlington exclaims, "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars."

While I would not classify the Austin Playhouse as a gutter, anyone who pays a visit to the theater during their current production of Lady Windermere's Fan will certainly be captivated by stars on display. With a splendid cast, fantastic direction, and Oscar Wilde's trademark wit, Lady Windermere's Fan is an astounding treat.

As should be expected of an Oscar Wilde play, the comedy satires the morals of Victorian society through the story of Lady Windermere, a young wife who believes her husband is unfaithful. While it is full of witty nuggets about British society, the text is not as uproariously funny as some of Wilde's other comedies. There are even times where the play, the fourth in Wilde's cannon, feels like a rough draft of some of his bigger hits.

As such, it seems fitting that Director Lara Toner has taken a more subtle, subdued approach to the material. The play clips along at a methodical, appropriate pace, enhancing the delicate balance inherent in Victorian social mores before slowing pecking away at them piece by piece. And though Wilde's dialogue may be restrained and Toner's direction fits the tone of the piece to perfection, Lady Windermere's Fan still offers the cast plenty of opportunities to elicit laughs from the audience.

Though the whiney, flighty, overly wounded Lady Windermere isn't the most sympathetic of heroines, Claire Ludwig demands our attention and our compassion and easily carries the show as a result. She's able to display the character's plight, anger, and feelings of betrayal without turning her into a complete martyr. While her predicament could be overdone, Ludwig's portrayal makes us feel as if we're watching a good friend having an extremely rough day, making Lady Windermere's story all the more compelling and real.

While the entire twelve person supporting cast is fabulous, the few that get the most comedic material are the ones that excel the most. Jason Newman proves once again that he's one of the best young actors in Austin. He brings a dashing, charming edge to Lord Darlington, and it's clear he enjoys spilling out Wilde's jabs at the British upper-class. Cyndi Williams proves to be a scene stealer as the Duchess of Berwick. With a certain airiness akin to Angela Lansbury, she plays the Duchess's gossipy, hypocritical persona to hilarious effect, and as the Duchess's dim bulb daughter, Jessica Hughes is perfection.

If there is a weak link in the cast, it may be Suzanne Balling as the mysterious Mrs. Erlynne. She's pleasant enough and fares far better in Act II, but there's something lacking that prevents Balling from creating a fully realized character, and even I can't seem to put my finger on it.

As set designer, Lara Toner creates an interesting world that is both real and surreal at the same time. Though the design borrows from Victorian art and is chock full of Victorian furniture, the giant fan that serves as the set's focal point is certainly an unexpected choice, as is its ability to spin and adapt itself into different shapes and settings. Though the design may be unorthodox and unique, it's certainly effective and is a thing of beauty. Equally beautiful are the costumes by Buffy Manners. The men, particularly Jason Newman as Lord Darlington, are all dressed in finely tailored suits and tuxedoes, and the women, especially Claire Ludwig as our heroine, all wear exquisite dresses and gowns.

While the production has a few minor flaws here and there, overall Lady Windermere's Fan has a winning combination of skilled direction, a strong and amiable cast, and gorgeous design. So my friends, get out of the gutter and look at the stars.

Photo: Claire Ludwig (L) and Jason Newman (R) in LADY WINDERMERE'S FAN. Photo by Jill Marie.

Run time: Approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes including one 15 minute intermission.

LADY WINDERMERE'S FAN plays the Austin Playhouse at the Highland Mall (6001 Airport Blvd, Austin TX) now thru April 7^th. Performances are Thursdays thru Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 5pm.

Tickets are $14-$15 students and $28-$30 adults.

For tickets and more information, please visit www.austinplayhouse.com

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