Review: AN IDEAL HUSBAND at Wilmington Drama League is a Dandy

Photo courtesy of MJ Mac Productions

An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde is a dual purpose play. On one hand, it is serious social comedy, with very strong political overtones, cynically examining a contemporary political landscape. Perhaps Wilmington Drama League chose to stage the play for that very reason, given our Country's current political escapades. One the other, it is a standard comedic play navigating the currents of marrying one's soul (or ideal) mate and managing expectations. The plot is ripe with blackmail and corruption, as well as love and desire, which at times can be the same things. The characters and circumstances surrounding Sir Robert Chiltern and Mrs. Cheveley precisely demonstrate that not only do finances influence political life but possession of information and knowledge of others wields a persuasive social power of great import.

Wilde also examines the problematic nature of marriage. Are the Chilterns foolish to try to have an "ideal" marriage based on materialistic values? As the play moves toward a more ideal moral standard amidst the characters' struggle with dishonesty, hypocrisy, double moral standards, materialism, and corruption of social and political life, in the end, the characters live happily ever with the enduring message that love, and not wealth, leads to happiness.

The setting of 1895 London, England is nicely established with its graceful, period appropriate interiors (Pete Worth, Set Design) and wardrobe (Cara Tortorice, Costume Design). Director Allyson Sands utilizes the entire stage with multiple large architectural backdrops and ornate furniture to further enforces the grandeur of the person, place and time. While the production is visually attractive, it is difficult on the attention span. The dialog of classical, period specific plays requires memorization of largely unfamiliar sentence structure requiring delivery at a brisk clip and, in this case, with accents. Some actors do better than others handling these requirements.

Bethany Miller as Lady Gertrude Chiltern and Shawn Kline as Sir Robert Chiltern are nicely matched as a devoted couple capable of overcoming extraneous circumstance. Meghan Elizabeth as the conniving blackmailer, Mrs. Cheveley, turns in a serviceable performance. A standout of this production is Paul Goodman as the dandified hero, Lord Arthur Goring, delivering philosophical pronouncements on love, marriage, forgiveness and charity. (He has some of the best one liners.) And, when Lord Goring finds loves, it is with Miss Mabel Chiltern, smartly portrayed by Cara Tortorice.

AN IDEAL HUSBAND
By Oscar Wilde
Wilmington Drama League
10 W. Lea Boulevard
Wilmington, DE 19802
(302) 764-1172
www.wilmingtondramaleague.org
Runs Nov 4 thru Nov 13

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