Life is not always fair. The Children's Hour by Lillian Hellman, is placed in the mid-30s. Her taboo subject is lesbianism, in the days when it was an unholy scandal. The Children's Hour exposes exactly how easily a rumor destroys.
At stake is an all-girls school two women have put their lives' money into. One, also, has a forthcoming marriage at stake. The play, 70 years old, is as topical as today's news.
Director Caprice Woosley meets the challenge of the script with her cast of 14, which included tyros as well as seasoned talent. As set designer, she opts for a basic black box with two doors and one window, allowing the furniture to change the scene from the girls school in Lancet, Nebraska and Mrs. Tilford's sitting room.
Act One opens with Mrs. Mortar (Beth Mercurio) pacing her students through a bit of Shakespeare. The students are charmingly played by Kristen Wagner, Kaitlin Lawler, Lindsay Davis, Arianna Afsar, Michelle Diaz, Stephanie Diaz, Marisa Parry, and Allison Finn. Except for the last two, we never see them again.
While The Children's Hour is about allegations of an "unseemly" relationship between school owner/teachers Martha and Karen (Rebecca Johannsen and Therese Schneck), the pivotal character is Mary Tilford (Allison Finn). Finn is in the seventh grade with a list of credits including work at the Globe, North Coast Repertory Theater, and elsewhere. She is totally convincing as a very evil, duplicitous girl. Her changes from a sweet young lady to evil little monster are scary, indeed. Marisa Parry as Rosalie, Mary's stooge, gives a strong performance as a young lady terrified of her friend. She has the ability to change from honest student to a lying and deceitful accomplice to Mary.
Rebecca Johannsen, the school co-owner Martha, gives a strong performance as a young lady being destroyed by the evil Mary Tilford. Prior to the rumors, Martha and school co-owner Karen (Therese Schneck) have just achieved a level of financial stability with the school. Schneck handles the variability of her role nicely; at times almost impassive, other times with strong emotion.
Anita Honey, Mrs. Tilford, is a properly uptight, wealthy, strong-willed grandmother with much too much faith in her granddaughter, Mary. Holly Stephenson, as Agatha, convinces us that young Mary doesn't deceive her for a second. Beth Mercurio, as Mrs. Mortar -- aunt to Martha, is delightfully overbearing. Ryan O'Nan plays Martha's love interest, Dr. Joe Carden.
Sound designer Michael Shapiro and lighting designer Jim Millard do their usual competent compliment to the play. Costumers Sherrie Colburn and Brenda Ward provide the girls with good uniforms. The rest of the cast are attired for the period.
The Children's Hour is a strong message-play about the disastrous results that can come from malicious rumor. The show is nicely done with several excellent performances. Lillian Hellman is much more than Mary McCarthy's comments on a Dick Cavett show many years ago.
