Review: A MINISTER'S WIFE at GableStage
A Poet is a Loathsome Thing...
... when he fancies another's wife. His youth, his looks, his expensive upbringing and his dextrous iambics cannot fail him. He is above it all, and by Jove, Christian Vandepas as Eugene Marchbanks, 1898 London poet and the sleek singing snake at work on the Reverend Morell's wife, Candida, is joyously entertaining in GableStage's latest of its infrequent musicals, A MINISTER'S WIFE.
Laura Hodos' Candida is a glowing beauty, reveling in her amused superiority over her husband and the would be overt and covert lovers in her house. Jim Ballard's Reverend James Morell is the good man, fair play and all that rot, nice as nice can be and overworked and loving it, innocently leaving the poet rolling his temptation apple around the family floor.
The fumbling, bumbling Reverend Lexie Mill, Morell's Deacon, played by Shane Tanner, also adores Candida, but wisely silently and Leah Sessa as Prossy Garnett, Morell's secretary naturally wouldn't mind a little petticoat popping with her boss.
Five captivating actors bring to life five engrossing characters in a superbly rendered late Victorian era home by Lyle Baskin. Richly formal furniture with upstage double doors swinging open to reveal a large wall mounted wooden cross. A rocking horse, china dolls. An antique desk and typewriter. A white curtained bay window partially conceals the musicians.
For ninety-five minutes these five actors sing. Gloriously. The live music is far from American standard. Difficult might best describe it. But every word can be heard and every word is just right.
A MINISTER'S WIFE is satirical, cynical and comical. A delight.
The music is by Joshua Schmidt, lyrics by Jan Levy Tranen and book by Austin Pendleton. Conceived by Michael Halberstam. Based on George Bernard Shaw's Candida.
Joseph Adler directed with musical direction by Eric Alsford who is also the conductor and pianist. Victoria Stepanenko plays the violin, Elena Amillae the cello and Gary Gottfried reed.
Lighting by Jeff Quinn, Matt Corey sound and Ellis Tillman costumes.
A MINISTER'S WIFE plays through Sunday April 24 at GableStage at the Biltmore, 1200 Anastasia Ave, Coral Gables. 305-445-1119 http://www.gablestage.org
Photo: L-R: Jim Ballard, Christian Vandepas, Laura Hodos. Credit: George Schiavone
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