Patricia Hurley and Morgan Duncan in “Interlude at the Playhouse.” Photo by DJ Corey Photography.
The Washington Stage Guild has been putting on George Bernard Shaw’s plays since its inception. The three plays presented in “Shaw’s Shorts”—“The Interlude at the Playhouse,” “The Dark Lady of the Sonnets,” and “O’Flaherty V.C.”—are all comedies with a satirical twist, emblematic of Shaw’s wit and political bent. While the choices of the short plays were ambitious and ultimately enjoyable, the show often relied too heavily upon broad comedy, losing valuable insight into the historical context and emotional underpinnings of Shaw’s work.
…bright and comedic…laugh-out loud moments…entertaining romp…
“Shaw’s Shorts” begins with “The Interlude at the Playhouse,” a silly sketch in which a “brilliant orator” becomes unglued in an effort to deliver a long-winded speech about the history of the theatre. Morgan Duncan is profoundly funny as the bumbling Mr. Goldsmith, playing excellently off of his wife, who is performed by Patricia Hurley. The inclusion of a small note within the show’s program, which served as a prop in the context of the show, was funny and memorable.
The show swiftly moves along to “The Dark Lady of the Sonnets,” a comedic scene between William Shakespeare and Queen Elizabeth. Leah Packer provokes laughter here in her role as Shakespeare’s discarded mistress. Her reactions to Shakespeare’s unfavorable comparisons between her and Queen Elizabeth were a highlight of the play.
The production concludes with “O’Flaherty V.C.” It was less successful than the other pieces due to its over-dependence on broad comedy. While occasionally funny, it was completely consumed by raucousness. For a play that was originally censored by the British for being too controversial and intended to be performed at Ireland’s National Theatre, this staging had a significant lack of nuance. However, the show was ultimately bright and comedic. What it lacked in subtlety, it made up for in laugh-out-loud moments.
The scenic design of Jonathan Dahm Robertson was beautifully done, with archways creating interesting frames for the actors to work with on stage. Costume designer Emily Vallozi is also of particular note for the variety of glittering and historical ensembles that created the core of Shaw’s world.
Though a bit more attention paid to the historical context of the pieces could have added to the show’s depth and emotional breadth, “Shaw’s Shorts” is an entertaining romp through George Bernard Shaw’s one-act plays.
Running Time: One hour and 45 minutes with a 15-minute intermission.
“Shaw’s Shorts” runs through December 15, 2024 at The Washington Stage Guild at 900 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001. For more information and to purchase tickets, please go online.
