“The Age Of Innocence” Edith Wharton ‘s 1920 Pulitzer Prize winning novel as commissioned by The Old Globe, adapted by Karen Zacarias and directed by Chay Yew, is currently showing on The Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage through March 10th.
Wharton was a woman, quite well ahead of time in progressive thinking. She was critical of the upper class Jones’ or ‘The Gilded Age’ of Upstate New York society at the turn of the century and her novel “Age of Innocence” brings that to the fore in spades.
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| Callum Adams and Delphi Borich |
Her story focuses on upper class wealthy lawyer Newland Archer (Callum Adams) and his newly engaged, shy and sly to a fault and proper as an upper class member of the elite society has to be, Mae Welland (Borich Delphi.) All well and good, until the exotic looking Ellen Orlenska (Shereen Ahmed) a former member of that society and May’s cousin, escapes from the throw of a disastrous marriage from a Polish nobleman, and returns to N.Y. where all bets are off; Newland can’t seem to stay away from Ellen as she is the complete opposite of May. Ellen grew up in Europe; is outspoken, bold and wants more in life than what New York high society expects from women.
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The cast boasts of about a dozen actors, some playing multiple roles (Mike Sears). All are dressed to the nines (Susan E. Mickey) on Arnulfo Maldonado’s modern set which is somewhat at odds with the times in which they live. The one exception in the set that stands out is the beautiful chandelier ever present with changing background colors on a screen in the background.(Lee Fiskness, lighting)
The only person not dressed in turn of the century garb is the narrator (Eva Kaminsky) who is on stage filling in the blanks of what’s to come and what was and adding a bit of some much needed humor and wit. Why director Yew chose that form of story -telling is somewhat of a puzzle and makes the inconsistencies even more confusing.
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| Delphi Borich, Callum Adams, Shereen |
Taking nothing away from the acting which is top notch, Shereen Ahmid’s Ellen is the most provocative in her bright red gown and lower than acceptable decolletage as she allows Newland to woo her knowing he will never break with tradition although all roads lead to that.
Ellen knows she is in the spotlight and savors every moment especially when she and Newland share a carriage ride together and sparks fly. She meets him at appointed times and allows him some closeness. Adams’ Newland, on the other hand, declares his desires for her, but there is absolutely no chemistry between them. In fact, as gracious and stately and in love as May might be, again, no sparks at all, just a casualness; almost a disinterest on Adams' part.
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| Shereen Ahmed and Callum Adams |
Herself a feminist, Wharton has no trouble bringing out the suffocating environment living with all the social restrictions of the upper class. She is realistic, bringing about this historical fiction during the “Gilded Age” as seen through her eyes. Unfortunately, while the acting, scape and costumes are a feast for the eyes, two and a hours of humdrum storytelling leaves much to be desired.
As for Ellen and May, it remains for you to see what their fate brings them.
See you at the theatre.
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| Cast |
When: 7 p.m. Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Through March 10
Where: The Old Globe Theatre, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, San Diego
Tickets: $35-$118
Photo: Jim Cox
