BWW Reviews: THE CIRCLE Brings Elegance and Wit at Westport Country Playhouse

With the recent news of Arnold and Maria's divorce and Anthony Weiner's twitter escapades fresh in our minds, The Westport Country Playhouse's revival of W. Somerset Maugham's The Circle couldn't come at a better time.

Set in 1921, the play opens as Arnold Champion-Cheney, M.P. is about to relive his childhood tragedy. His mother, Lady Catherine ("Kitty"), bolted 30 years before with his godfather, her husband's political peer and best friend, Lord Porteous. His wife, Elizabeth, surprised him with her announcement that she invited Kitty and Lord Porteus were coming to stay with them. His father, Clive, is arriving on short notice. The reunion gets even more awkward as Elizabeth reveals that she wants to leave Arnold for their houseguest, Teddie Luton. The play is perfectly crafted, with one exception: the undefined character of Mrs. Shenstone, who serves no apparent purpose in the play. At best, she is a friend of Arnold and Elizabeth's, but she drives not one part of the plot and supplies no wisdom or even wit to the play. There is plenty of both in this play, and the wit evokes Oscar Wilde. Maugham wrote, "The most useful thing about a principle is that it can always be sacrificed for expediency." Which makes the presence of Mrs. Shenstone even harder to understand.

"She was like a lovely marquise in an old French comedy," Clive describes Kitty. Occasionally he lets his anger and hurt break through his otherwise unfailing civil demeanor. He snidely brings an old photo album to show everyone what a delicate beauty his narcissistic ex-wife was in her youth. In another scene, he tells her dispassionately, "I love old wine, old friends and old books, but I like young women."

Other revelations are sure to become prescient. Teddie describes his ex-patriot life in Malaysia as being with people who have learned to make the best of one's situation. That sums up the life of Kitty and her second husband, who fled to Italy for a "silly, worthless life" and a social circle of divorcees and kept women. He promised her, "I don't offer you happiness. I offer you love," and certainly kept that promise.

Clive, whose emotional pain prevented him from living in the elegant country house where the play is set, tries to help his son save his marriage to Elizabeth. Remove the bars and the prisoner won't want to leave, he tells Arnold. Alas, he fails.

Nicholas Martin's well-paced direction keeps the audience members interested even though they can guess the end by the title that everything comes full circle.

The cast is nearly impeccable with Paxton Whitehead as Clive, Marsha Mason as Lady Catherine, Marc Vietor as Arnold and John Horton as Lord Porteous. Whitehead's performance of Clive as gentleman, responsible father, victim and master of vengeance is absolutely delicious. Mason nails her character's combination of shallowness, charm, determination and acceptance and is nicely cast opposite Horton, who is spot-on as a now cantankerous man who threw away a promising career for love. Vietor is ideal as the somewhat stuffy and dutiful aristocrat who is as clueless about his wife's feelings as about the antique furniture he collects. As Arnold's wife, Elizabeth, Gretchen Hall is pleasant but not quite convincing. Elizabeth should be suitable as the wife of a member of parliament, but she comes across as superficial and naive. What is lacking in her performance in the early part of the play is the self-possession expected of a 25-year-old of that time and social rank and the steeliness required for a woman who is about to hurt her emotionally bruised husband. Bryce Pinkham's Teddie needs to convey the charisma that would persuade Elizabeth to give up social status and money for life in an English colony in a third world country. James Joseph O'Neil is proper as the butler, there when needed but always discreet, and Christina Rouner makes the best of her undefined character, Mrs. Shenstone.

Alexander Dodge's interpretation of Aston-Adey, the Champion-Cheney house in Dorset is utter perfection. Classic columns and wide doors set against sky blue walls and exquisite furniture and accessories. Philip Rosenberg's lighting beautifully complements the scenic design. Gabriel Berry's costume choices reflected the flouncy Lady Catherine and sometimes discomfited Elizabeth.

The Circle will run at The Westport Country Playhouse through June 25. For tickets, call the box office at 203-227-4166 or toll-free at 1-888-927-7529. Tickets are also available online. The Westport Country Playhouse is located at 25 Powers Court in Westport.

Note: There will be several special events in conjunction with The Circle. On Tuesday, June 14 is "Ladies' Night Out," with a pre-show reception at 6:30 p.m. with appetizers, music and chance to win the use of a car from Mercedes-Benz of Fairfield for a weekend. "Talking over Tea" will take place Wednesday, June 22 at noon with lunch and insights into the costuming. Guest speakers include Anne Keefe and Lisa Ficco, artistic advisor and wardrobe supervisor, respectively, at The Playhouse. "Backstage Pass" takes place that day, following the 2:00 p.m. matinee. Patrons can meet members of the production stage and learn about scenery and special effects. "Together at the Table," a communal dinner in The Playhouse rehearsal barn is set for June 22 at 6:30 p.m. A discounted ticket price of $10.00 includes dinner and a show and is limited to 100 people. You must attend as a family group with student-age children. Thursday Talkback is a question and answer session on June 23 following the performance.

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