A buoyant company directed by Stephen Porter is giving a spirited performance of ”Getting Married,” the 1908 comedy dubbed by author George Bernard Shaw as ”a disquisitory play,” at the Circle in the Square Theatre. The disquisition examines the matrimonial state of Edwardian England in a series of dialogues, discourses and emphatic opinions. Shaw also adopted the Greek unity of time, place, and action, in this case a bishop`s palace on a fine spring morning. Aside from some trims, Porter has divided the action into two acts to make an evening of about two hours and 35 minutes.
Not surprisingly for Shaw, ”Getting Married” is almost about not getting married. As the play opens, the bride, Bishop Bridgenorth`s youngest daughter, and groom are locked in their respective rooms. Each is buried in a pamphlet entitled, ”Do You Know What You Are Going to Do? By One Who Has Done It.” When they finally appear, it develops that young Cecil Sykes (J.D. Cullum) has been shocked to discover that he will be legally responsible for his bride-to-be`s reckless public statements. For her part, Edith Bridgenorth has learned the difficulties of divorcing even a disreputable husband under British law.
The comedy-cum-farce is equally concerned with the assorted alliances and misalliances among the family and guests assembled for what is supposed to be a happy event. The bishop`s brother, the General (Nicolas Coster), a Blimp before his time, repeatedly proposes to Lesbia (Victoria Tennant), a fetching spinster who would like to have children but can`t be bothered with a husband. A pending divorce threatens to separate the bishop`s gallant brother Reginald (Simon Jones) from his young wife Leo (Madeleine Potter).
The company finally decides to draw up its own marital agreement. It goes without saying that they can`t agree on anything. Shaw solves the general dilemma with a Shavian happy ending.
The revival-the first on Broadway in four decades-proves consistently amiable and diverting. The director moves his actors around in a fashion that might almost be called restless were it not so adroitly choreographed. The generally accomplished cast includes Lee Richardson as the fair-minded bishop, Elizabeth Franz as his gently humorous wife, Patrick Tull as the practical green grocer-alderman, Scott Wentworth as the voluble (but aren`t they all?)
snob St. John Hotchkiss, Linda Thorson as the unexpectedly mystical mayor to whom he is attracted and Walter Bobbie as the bishop`s censorious chaplain.
The Shavian disquisition takes place in the bishop`s kitchen, simply but attractively designed by James Morgan and lighted by Mary Jo Dondlinger. Holly Hynes created the elegant Edwardian costumes.
