Morris Panych and Ken MacDonald are a formidable duo when it comes to directing and designing. I particularly loved the sets of this play - stark, elegant and witty.
This is one of Shaw's better plays and the issue is as relevant now as ever before. Who lives and who dies, in a time of scarce resources?
Patrick Galligan was appealing as the doctor who falls in love with the patient's wife (Krista Colosimo.) The patient Louis Dubedat was played by Jonathan gould who hit all the right notes as the charming, amoral scoundrel, who happens to be a genius, too.
The other doctors were all excellent - Michael Ball, Ric Reid, Thom Marriott and Jonathan Widdifield.
Gorgeous sets by MacDonald, but I don't want to suggest by putting that first that the directing and acting were not excellent too - they were.
ReplyDeleteThe program suggested that this play was intended as an indictment of private medicine, but I don't see that. The doctors (and surgeon) were presented as, if not quacks, certainly rather ignorant men with their own axes to grind and as concerned with appearances as medicine, but a public system doesn't cure that.
The ethical dilemma is a personal one for Ridgeon and he recognises the possibility that his choice of Blenkinsop might be influenced by his feelings for Jennifer Dubidat, and turns to his colleagues for a decision.
You can argue a blind choice could be better, but overall Ridgeon behaved honourably - and I agree with the decision: go Blenkinsop!