Theatre Review: Mrs Warren's Profession
A Mermaids Production
07/10/23-08/10/23
Directed by: Hannah Savage
Produced by: Faye Bamford
Written by: George Bernard Shaw
Review by Callisto Lodwick
On a damp, cold evening, several dozen St Andrews students squeezed into the lower recesses of the Buchanan lecture theatre to enjoy Mermaids’ second production of the year: Mrs. Warren’s Profession, George Bernard Shaw’s expose of the social and economic hardships faced by women in the nineteenth century. A smooth, sleek production with excellent characterisation and injections of humour awaited, a treat to anyone fond of period drama.
Mrs. Warren’s Profession follows Vivi, who visits her estranged mother only to discover the scandalous secret behind the business that has accrued her and her daughter so much wealth. There is your typical drama fair of audacious love interests, sly old men, and familial tensions, but Mrs Warren’s doesn’t fall into those traditional tropes when it reaches its ending. Even I, who knew the broad strokes of the plot, didn’t see where it was going: it was a pleasant change from watching play after play end with hugs and kisses for all. Its final message on women’s restrictive roles still rings true in modern Britain, even if to a lesser extent than 120 years ago: the audience sat in rapt attention as their minds worked through the final speeches.
While solidly Victorian in its costuming, language, and characters, this treatment of the play oscillates between the expected and fraught emotional exchanges, and moments of humour that span everything from witty responses to full-on slapstick: it is a credit to both the actors and Hannah Savage’s directing that the jump doesn't feel abrupt or unnatural. The humour perhaps lingers a slightly too long at the emotional climax, but it has the effect of putting the audience in the uncomfortable shoes of Amelia Stokeld’s terse, abrupt Vivi. Vivi’s personality shines through in her every word and action. Indeed, one of the play’s greatest strengths is the character and verve every actor brings to their role. Every single line is played to its fullest, and jokes are made out of even the most mundane piece of dialogue or smallest action. Every one of the supporting roles is a comic standout, while it’s left to Vivi and Mrs. Warren (India Kolb) to handle most of the emotional lifting; however, the two are more than up to the heavy task. The effort put into all of this is clear, and it pays off: the result is an entertaining, fast-paced piece that keeps the audience engaged.
With the closure of ST.AGE (part of the Union’s temporarily-shuttered 601), Mrs. Warren’s has followed in the footsteps of productions at the tail-end of last year and moved into the Buchanan lecture theatre. While it can feel a little odd to be ushered into a 7.30 pm play through the same doors students normally stumble through bleary-eyed at nine in the morning, concerns quickly fade away as the lights come up. The Buchanan has a lighting rig perfectly adequate for the natural lighting that Mrs Warren’s requires (there’s even a brief spotlight), and its sound quality is equally excellent. The actors make full use of the entire space, entering and existing from the back doors as well as the wings, and the experience is just as immersive as sitting in the Byre or the Barron. Props and costumes are equally simple yet effective, and sound effects and comic acting make up for any missing doors or furniture.
For any avid theatre-goers out there, Mrs. Warren’s Profession is a wonderful way to spend a Sunday night. But of course, those avid theatre-goers don’t need this review: they’re going anyway. But for those who don’t attend every St Andrews student production religiously, Mrs. Warren’s offers a slightly different way to spend a Sunday night than endless rounds of pub quizzes at the Union: a way that will showcase quality student acting and directing, make you laugh, make you think, and maybe even give you some fonder memories of Buchanan lecture theatre.
