Tag Archives: Venice California

Theatre Review: MRS. WARREN’S PROFESSION

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George Bernard Shaw wrote Mrs. Warren’s Profession in 1893. Originally banned in England, the play opened on Oct 30, 1905 in New York. Some critics called it “illuminated gangrene”. The following day, on Oct 31, the producer and players were arrested for obscenity. Fortunately, no one got arrested on Thursday, Oct 15, 2026.
 
Vivie (Nell Murphy) is an educated young woman living in England. She graduated from Cambridge in Mathematics. Her posh education and lifestyle have been paid for by her mother, Mrs. Warren (Cyndy Fujikawa). What Vivie doesn’t know is that her mom’s money comes from running multiple brothels across Europe. How will Vivie react when she finds out about the origins of that money?
 
To complicate things a bit more, Mrs. Warren tries to hook up Vivie with Mr. Praed (Stuart W. Howard), an architect. Vivie, however, is romantically involved with Frank (Will Rothhaar), a penniless guy with not much of a future. His father is the local reverend, Samuel (Richard Eden), who might be Vivie’s father, making Vivie and Frank half-siblings. But that’s not it, Crofts (Geoffrey Wade), Mrs. Warren’s business partner in the prostitution trade, is also interested in Vivie.
 
With that conflict structure, Shaw pictures the challenges and professional prospects of women in Victorian England. Growing up poor, Mrs. Warren explains that prostitution was her option to attain financial independence. For Vivie, this becomes a dilemma. How can she support her mom’s business if that entails exploiting other young women like herself? In this play, Shaw uses a powerful device: Irony. Mrs. Warren escaped the oppression of poverty by getting into prostitution, which in turn, oppresses other women. Vivie benefitted from that vicious circle; she received a college education and enjoyed a comfortable lifestyle. Although supportive once her mom justifies her profession, Vivie now has to deal with her own moral principles. Her final decision will determine the future of her relationship with Mrs. Warren.
 
Director Michael Rothhaar remains truthful to Shaw’s realism by allowing the cast to emphasize the motivations of the characters. This highlights the dynamic relationships and re-creates the challenges and attitudes of the era. The play has seven characters, but the main focus is the conflictive relationship between mother and daughter. They are the epicenter of the action, and their relationship affects the way they interact with the people around them. As a play that is centered more in character development than plot, Shaw directs our attention to the characters exteriorizing their internal conflicts when uncomfortable truths are revealed.
 
The cast is pivotal to explore the intricacies of this play. All of the actors bring truth to their characters, giving the audience an opportunity to choose where to place their sympathies. Can we side with Mrs. Warren? Is Vivie’s attitude towards her mom justified? Why does Mrs. Warren continue to be involved in the prostitution business? Fujikawa and Murphy have a commanding stage presence. Their interaction is a superlative demonstration of emotion and spontaneity that creates tension to build up the conflict, a master class of talent here. The male actors are also fantastic, adding a great deal of flavor to the scenes with their portrayal of ambition, weakness, and hypocrisy.
 
With this play, Shaw tried to describe the “New Woman” concept that was spreading across England and the US at the time. By doing so, he was also introducing his socialist ideas, which up to this day, still generate strong reactions. As the play continues to speak to audiences around the world, Pacific Resident Theatre excels in presenting the fight for equality with a renewed energy, balancing out the depiction of realism and symbolism effectively.
 
Mrs. Warren’s Profession
 
Pacific Resident Theatre
707 Venice Blvd.
Venice, CA 90291
 
Opening at 8pm on Saturday, September 19, 2026
Schedule: 8pm Thurs, Fri; 3pm & 8pm Sat; 3pm Sundays through October 25
(check website for exceptions)
Closing: November 15, 2026
 
Playwright: George Bernard Shaw. Director: Michael Rothhaar. Executive Producer: Marilyn Fox. Presented by Pacific Resident Theatre.
 
Cast: Richard Eden, Cyndy Fujikawa, Brad Greenquist, Geoffrey Wade, Stuart W. Howard, Nell Murphy, and Will Rothhaar.
 
Creative team: Taubert Nadalini (Set Design), Shon LeBlanc (Costume Design), Michael Franco (Lighting Design).

Theatre Review: Demolition

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Marcy (Terry Davis) needs to remodel her house, so she hires Chuck (Brian Letscher), a smart and successful contractor. Chuck sends his employee Doug (Keith Stevenson) to do the job. Doug is training Paul (Ryan Foust), Chuck’s son. Paul is about to graduate from high school to go to college to study filmmaking. Everything looks normal, except that Paul has a secret that threatens to ruin his future.

Doug and Chuck know each other from their high school days. Doug also knows Chuck’s wife June (Tracie Lockwood). As a matter of fact, Doug and June were dating in high school. Chuck’s jealousy and distrust is not apparent, but it’s a latent issue, building up as a pressure cooker about to explode. Doug’s dubious business practices and sleazy behavior with his female customers adds tension to the already delicate situation. In the meantime, Paul gets in trouble at school. Marihuana is found in his locker, and he is being blackmailed by a girl in his class. 

Trying to fix Paul’s situation, Doug and June arrange for Paul to talk to Mr. France (Tony Pasqualini), the school’s principal who likes to drink and appears to smoke weed as well. Playwright Matthew Letscher uses the relationship between Doug and Paul as a symbol of role models that have a profound influence in a young person’s life. Paul, and to some extent June, see Doug as a reliable source of advice in times of need.

The relationship among the characters is an example of missed opportunities and how the past can’t be buried in its totality. Whatever pieces are left, they will continue to influence our decisions later in life. For better or worse, is Doug the one who pays the highest price. He has to pick up—figurative and physically—the shattered pieces of the damaged relationships among the characters. Demolition does not refer to physical destruction only.

Not only is the text superb, the direction by Max Mayer is also remarkable. He gives the actors plenty of room to explore and exteriorize the nuances demanded of each character. All of this without loosing the exceptional touch of comedy, present throughout the play, and exceptionally executed by all of the six actors. The set suffers some serious abuse. Kudos to Mayer and his set designer, Jay Tyson, for the amazing job on that department.

Doug, a blue-collar worker, left behind and willing to sacrifice his own interests for the benefit of others, is the centerpiece of the play. The inception and execution of this character leave the audience rooting for him. You know there’s something especial in front of you with that kind of empathic reaction. This is another win for Pacific Resident Theatre under the artistic direction of Marilyn Fox, who continues to demonstrate her great taste in selecting productions that become an instant hit with the audience.    

Demolition

Pacific Resident Theatre
703 Venice Blvd.
Venice, CA 90291
Street parking or small free lot in back: pacificresidenttheatre.org

Opening: 8pm Saturday, September 7, 2024
Schedule: 8pm Thursdays – Saturdays; 3pm Sundays
Closing: October 13, 2024 

Tickets: app.arts-people.com/index.php?ticketing=prtve

Written by Matthew Letscher. Directed by Max Mayer. Presented by Pacific Resident Theatre.

Cast: Terry Davis, Tracie Lockwood, Ryan Foust, Brian Letscher, Tony Pasqualini, Keith Stevenson, Melissa Bales, Samantha Sloyan.

Creative team: Jay Tyson (Scenic Design), Leigh Allen (Lighting Design), Chris Moscatiello (Sound Design), Audrey Eisner (Costume Design), Teak Piegdon-Brainin (Stage Manager).