The Shaw Festival has done acclaimed productions of work by William Inge in the past, including Bus Stop and Picnic, but we have missed seeing them for some reason. Come Back Little Sheba was our first exposure to this American master.
Ric Reid and Corrine Koslo were superb in the lead roles as Doc and Lola Delaney, with good support from Julia Course as Marie and Kevin McGarry as Turk.
Jackie Maxwell directed and as usual was fully in control of the action. The tension between Doc and Lola grows to a climax that is shocking. Doc finally says what he has been thinking for the past year and it is nasty and cruel. But when he comes back, he speaks the truth again, even tough it is totally at odds with what he said before.
So, does Little Sheba represent their youth? Their sex life?
ReplyDeleteDoc and Lola view Marie and Turk with a rather creepy mixture of parental affection and lust.
While they are reconciled at the end, you have to worry about the future.
Anyway, a good production, well performed.