A rare revival of Cicely Hamilton’s romantic comedy, an unexpected hit of the 1908 London season. When poorly paid worker Diana inherits enough money to free her from a lifetime of drudgery, she impulsively decides to spend it all on a madcap, month-long taste of the high-life. But what she learns about love, money and society is as timely in 2019 as it was at the turn of the 20th century. April 11-June 3; $15-$35; Kiki & David Gindler Performing Arts Center, 110 East Broadway, Glendale, CA 91205; (818) 506-1983 or www.antaeus.org.
Diana of Dobson’s
Critics
LemonMeter
Reviews: 14
Reviews
This is a curious museum-piece that still speaks to us in these unsettling times for democracies around the world, as well as for the continued growth of the woman’s movement. Definitely worth seeing.
The complexities of these relationships are sorted out quite nicely by director Casey Stangl, one of the area’s finest practitioners in this arena. He breathes new energy and relevance to this play. It obviously resonates for today’s workers because of both extreme money and class disparities, moving ever forward to a possible explosive result.
Director Casey Stangl helms the production with a sure hand as she paints the world over 100 years ago. Although somewhat miscast as Diana, Marks does a splendid job of sharing Diana's dreams with the audience. The talented ensemble cast does excellent work re-creating a time in history which is no more – although some of the issues touched upon still loom large on the horizon.
Cicely Hamilton (1872-1952) was a British actress, playwright, journalist, feminist and suffragist whose work really needs to be rediscovered if her play Diana of Dobson's is any indication of her talent. She comes across as a more feminine, less dogmatic writer than her contemporary, George Bernard Shaw. In Diana, receiving a wonderful revival by Antaeus Theatre Company in Glendale, she delves into the world of the working class shop girl, struggling to make a living for meager wages in Edwardian England.
You mold and melt at no time. The show captivates you and your time travel takes to such dept wondering when and how got out of that situation in your life. So touching and real. Nothing comes between you and the cast.
Director Casey Stangl delivers a beautifully crafted world where the plight of women, if not servants in general, is both underscored and used to delightfully comic ends.
Under the impeccable direction of Casey Stangl, stunning costume design by A. Jeffrey Schoenberg, scenic design by Nina Caussa, lighting design by Karyn D. Lawrence, and sound design by Jeff Gardner this production is not only a play for our time, but one of the best, most ‘full' productions mounted by Antaeus Theatre Company to date. - Highly Recommended
Director Casey Stangl brought the play to the company and has done a superb job of guiding her talented cast. If the script had any cobwebs, Stangl's pitch-perfect pacing or, perhaps, some judicious pruning blew them away. The direction also finds an easy balance between the gritty realism of the bookending London acts and the more comic and satiric elements of the Swiss adventure. Under Stangl's sure hand the play pulsates with life and speaks with a striking directness to current societal issues.
Unfortunately, this is a jewel of a play not fully realized, largely due to misdirection. The material demands a lighthearted surface, resting on a foundation of realistic, spirited commentary about society's inequities. Yet Stangl helms the proceedings with a heavy hand, and sets an unvarying pace in which the action too often verges on hysteria.
Despite its rough setting, Hamilton's play is a gem — rousing entertainment with sociological heft that makes us question just what combination of circumstances or controversy has put the firebrand feminist author into undeserved eclipse for so long. We suspect we know that answer without asking.
Playwright Cicely Hamilton's first productions of her DIANA OF DOBSON'S in 1908 must have been quite controversial with a, then unheard of, strong, outspoken woman Diana Massingberd as the lead character. Abigail Marks more than fills the shoes of Diana with her relentless command of the stage, constantly speaking her quite honest mind. Director Casey Stangl deftly guides her talented cast in a fast-talking, fast-paced journey of Diana's adventures.
In a time when so many older works that feel dated and problematic for women are continuously revived despite those issues, it is refreshing to see a lesser known play that is so progressive, not to mention fun.
Move over, Oscar Wilde and George Bernard Shaw! A new contemporary of yours has come to town and she is kicking butt!
In an exceedingly rare revival, in a mostly “partner-cast” production with two ensembles, the “Kettles” and the “Pots,” the Antaeus Theatre Company presents the 1908 romantic comedy Diana of Dobson's by British feminist and suffragist (and friend of GBS) Cicely Hamilton.
It was the unexpected hit of the 1908 London season, skewering the war between the sexes and positioning its author amongst the highest rungs of class-conscious writers (that you probably never heard of). After its moment in the spotlight it unfairly fell out of view—no doubt because it was written by a woman.
All hail the ambitious Antaeus for digging up this absolute gem. I hope the delicious reviews it receives inspires companies everywhere in the English-speaking world to sink their tough Actors' Equity proletarian hands into this sizzling hot property that positively burns up the stage with wit, sagacity, satire and class.
A largely forgotten frothy romp with feminist teeth now being given a splendiferous 21st-century Antaeus Theatre Company revival. Rarely has a 111-year-old play seemed so fresh and alive and young and worth rediscovering.
Impeccably directed by Casey Stangl, this ensemble is top drawer. I need to point out that the delightful Lynn Milgrim as Mrs. Whyte-Fraser and the polar opposite character, Old Woman, is exquisite. Ben Atkinson, as a hyper-efficient hotel waiter and later as a London Bobby, is just as he should be. Though it may be hard to pull one's eyes away from heated conflict, glance over at Jazzlyn K. Luckett as a hotel servant as sparks fly center stage. She does not pull focus, simply reacts. I guarantee you will smile.
This is a curious museum-piece that still speaks to us in these unsettling times for democracies around the world, as well as for the continued growth of the woman’s movement. Definitely worth seeing.
The complexities of these relationships are sorted out quite nicely by director Casey Stangl, one of the area’s finest practitioners in this arena. He breathes new energy and relevance to this play. It obviously resonates for today’s workers because of both extreme money and class disparities, moving ever forward to a possible explosive result.
Director Casey Stangl helms the production with a sure hand as she paints the world over 100 years ago. Although somewhat miscast as Diana, Marks does a splendid job of sharing Diana's dreams with the audience. The talented ensemble cast does excellent work re-creating a time in history which is no more – although some of the issues touched upon still loom large on the horizon.
Cicely Hamilton (1872-1952) was a British actress, playwright, journalist, feminist and suffragist whose work really needs to be rediscovered if her play Diana of Dobson's is any indication of her talent. She comes across as a more feminine, less dogmatic writer than her contemporary, George Bernard Shaw. In Diana, receiving a wonderful revival by Antaeus Theatre Company in Glendale, she delves into the world of the working class shop girl, struggling to make a living for meager wages in Edwardian England.
Director Casey Stangl delivers a beautifully crafted world where the plight of women, if not servants in general, is both underscored and used to delightfully comic ends.
Under the impeccable direction of Casey Stangl, stunning costume design by A. Jeffrey Schoenberg, scenic design by Nina Caussa, lighting design by Karyn D. Lawrence, and sound design by Jeff Gardner this production is not only a play for our time, but one of the best, most ‘full' productions mounted by Antaeus Theatre Company to date. - Highly Recommended
Director Casey Stangl brought the play to the company and has done a superb job of guiding her talented cast. If the script had any cobwebs, Stangl's pitch-perfect pacing or, perhaps, some judicious pruning blew them away. The direction also finds an easy balance between the gritty realism of the bookending London acts and the more comic and satiric elements of the Swiss adventure. Under Stangl's sure hand the play pulsates with life and speaks with a striking directness to current societal issues.
Unfortunately, this is a jewel of a play not fully realized, largely due to misdirection. The material demands a lighthearted surface, resting on a foundation of realistic, spirited commentary about society's inequities. Yet Stangl helms the proceedings with a heavy hand, and sets an unvarying pace in which the action too often verges on hysteria.
Despite its rough setting, Hamilton's play is a gem — rousing entertainment with sociological heft that makes us question just what combination of circumstances or controversy has put the firebrand feminist author into undeserved eclipse for so long. We suspect we know that answer without asking.
Playwright Cicely Hamilton's first productions of her DIANA OF DOBSON'S in 1908 must have been quite controversial with a, then unheard of, strong, outspoken woman Diana Massingberd as the lead character. Abigail Marks more than fills the shoes of Diana with her relentless command of the stage, constantly speaking her quite honest mind. Director Casey Stangl deftly guides her talented cast in a fast-talking, fast-paced journey of Diana's adventures.
In a time when so many older works that feel dated and problematic for women are continuously revived despite those issues, it is refreshing to see a lesser known play that is so progressive, not to mention fun.
Move over, Oscar Wilde and George Bernard Shaw! A new contemporary of yours has come to town and she is kicking butt!
In an exceedingly rare revival, in a mostly “partner-cast” production with two ensembles, the “Kettles” and the “Pots,” the Antaeus Theatre Company presents the 1908 romantic comedy Diana of Dobson's by British feminist and suffragist (and friend of GBS) Cicely Hamilton.
It was the unexpected hit of the 1908 London season, skewering the war between the sexes and positioning its author amongst the highest rungs of class-conscious writers (that you probably never heard of). After its moment in the spotlight it unfairly fell out of view—no doubt because it was written by a woman.
All hail the ambitious Antaeus for digging up this absolute gem. I hope the delicious reviews it receives inspires companies everywhere in the English-speaking world to sink their tough Actors' Equity proletarian hands into this sizzling hot property that positively burns up the stage with wit, sagacity, satire and class.
A largely forgotten frothy romp with feminist teeth now being given a splendiferous 21st-century Antaeus Theatre Company revival. Rarely has a 111-year-old play seemed so fresh and alive and young and worth rediscovering.
Impeccably directed by Casey Stangl, this ensemble is top drawer. I need to point out that the delightful Lynn Milgrim as Mrs. Whyte-Fraser and the polar opposite character, Old Woman, is exquisite. Ben Atkinson, as a hyper-efficient hotel waiter and later as a London Bobby, is just as he should be. Though it may be hard to pull one's eyes away from heated conflict, glance over at Jazzlyn K. Luckett as a hotel servant as sparks fly center stage. She does not pull focus, simply reacts. I guarantee you will smile.
You mold and melt at no time. The show captivates you and your time travel takes to such dept wondering when and how got out of that situation in your life. So touching and real. Nothing comes between you and the cast.