I hereby submit what might be the minority view of George Bernard Shaw's Mrs. Warren's Profession, but I stand by it. I think the current Broadway production of this bold play about a brothel owner and her daughter, which was a breakthrough in its time, fails in several respects, mostly in casting and directing (by Doug Hughes - whom I liked for Oleanna and The Royal Family). I think they took the description of the daughter, played by a brash Sally Hawkins, too literally, and she comes across as stiff, practical, cerebral and totally lacking in feminine charm which might have given reason beyond money for her suitors. And her major suitor, played by Adam Driver, is a repulsive slob spilled onto the stage. Driver plays about a third of his lines in a disconcerting soprano voice and is as attractive as a lizard.
Michael Siberry is excellent as the reverend, and Edward Hibbert and Mark Harelik are quite good.
The charismatic Cherry Jones does well early in the play, although her use of lower-class pronunciation, I guess to demonstrate her roots, doesn't quite fit for me for a woman who has climbed high on the ladder and surely would have elevated her accent. Hughes doesn't reign her in for the big confrontation scene with her daughter, and she chews up the scenery, basically on one note, for their big fight.
Scott Pask's settings are elaborate and terrific, costumes by Catherine Zuber are "to a T," and David Van Tieghem's subtle lighting creates nuances in mood. But for me, this production is not the right vehicle to carry Shaw's original concept and compelling words about the plight of working-class women as a commodity.
