written by Oscar Wilde
directed by Amy Rummenie
February 10–25, 2012
Red Eye Theatre
Robert and Gertrude Chiltern have a loving, ideal marriage. He is an upwardly mobile member of Parliament, adored for his unblemished virtue; she is a dedicated champion of moral causes. But when the devious Mrs. Cheveley threatens to expose one shameful secret from Robert’s past, the Chilterns must rely upon the rakish bachelor Lord Goring to save their relationship, reputation, and chance of future happiness. A thrilling tale of love, deceit, and responsibility in public life, told with the unmistakable wit and charm of Oscar Wilde.
Cast
Production Team
| sir robert chiltern | Adam Whisner | director | Amy Rummenie |
| lady gertude chiltern | Sara Ochs | set | Steve Kath |
| lord arthur goring | David Beukema | costumes | E. Amy Hill |
| miss mabel chiltern | Teresa Marie Doran | lighting | Peter W. Mitchell |
| mrs. cheveley | Heidi Berg | sound | Victor Zupanc |
| earl of caversham | Alan Sorenson | props | Jennifer Probst |
| lady markby | Maggie Bearmon-Pistner | stage manager | Sarah Holmberg |
| countess of basildon | Noe Tallen | asst stage manager | Callie Meiners |
| mrs. marchmont | Anissa Siobhan Brazill | production photos | Dan Norman |
| vicomte de nanjac | Patrick Kozicky | ||
| mr. montford | Ben Layne | ||
| phipps | Joe Wiener | ||
| mason | Shannon Troy Jones | ||
| james | Ruth Virkus | ||
| harold | Zachary Nelson |
Reviews
In eight years and 24 productions, Walking Shadow Theatre never has had occasion to extend a run. Until now. Their first-rate production of Oscar Wilde’s “An Ideal Husband” at the 100-seat Red Eye space in Minneapolis sold out its final weekend, so a 3 p.m. Sunday show has been added. The politics-and-piffle period comedy is full of Wildean quips, natch, but its plot about a powerful young politician facing blackmail is oh so au courant. Some of the banter (“To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance”) is positively inspirational.
-Claude Peck, Star Tribune
Adroitly directed by Amy Rummenie for Walking Shadow Theatre, this lucid staging is wickedly amusing, laden with subtle characterizations and as topical as your morning websites.
Sir Robert Chiltern’s hair, brilliantined and severely parted, telegraphs him as both a bigwig and a prig. Adam Whisner manages to inhabit the fast-rising politico’s despicable qualities as well as his vulnerability. When his position is threatened by the blackmailing Mrs. Cheveley (Heidi Berg), Sir Robert at first admits no remorse for past misdeeds, actually finding a way to switch the blame to his unsuspecting wife, Gertrude (Sara Ochs). In an almost Genet-like moral flip-flop, he insists that his abuse of power in fact arose “from a terrible, horrible courage.” Guys like this, it seems, still find politics irresistible. In today’s world, Ochs’ devoted Gertrude is the one standing beside her husband at the humiliating news conference.
Lord Arthur Goring (David Beukema), who “lives only for pleasure,” is called upon to save the day. He gently tries to talk Gertrude out of the giant halo she has placed above her husband’s head. The artfulness here arises not from slamming doors and stage highjinks, but from Wilde’s dialogue, and from actor David Beukema’s confident control of the play’s pivotal character.
Young Mabel (Teresa Marie Doran), Sir Robert’s sister, runs her charming motor-mouth like a late-Victorian Nicki Minaj. Naturally, she and Goring are drawn to each other…
In addition to a strong cast, Rummenie is ably assisted by an effective series of short musical interludes (Victor Zupanc), a spot-on lighting design by Peter Mitchell and an ingenious set design (Steve Kath) in which liveried servants crisply rearrange 10 wooden pillars to suggest different rooms. There is nothing small-budget about the elaborate period costumes designed by Amy Hill.
-Claude Peck, Star Tribune
