No, Ethan Hawke is not appearing in a production of Tennessee William’s “Camino Real” at the Huntington Theatre Company, as was originally announced in the 2001-2002 season. I think I speak for most when I say that I am fairly disappointed. But I guess that’s what happens when a theater company’s season is subject to change.
The Huntington Theatre Company has replaced “Camino Real” with a production of George Bernard Shaw’s “Heartbreak House.” Set in the house of a retired sea captain on the eve of World War I, “Heartbreak House” is a commentary on British society, love, marriage and war.
According to the Huntington’s Artistic Associate Scott Edmiston, “the true motivation for the construction of ‘Heartbreak House’ came from the playwright’s outrage over the outbreak of World War I in 1914. Shaw saw the violation of Belgian neutrality as merely a pretext for a war that he viewed as a struggle for supremacy between European imperial powers.”
After arriving at Captain Shotover’s estate for a weekend house party, Miss Ellie Dunn, a poor but proper young lady engaged to marry an affluent industrialist, conceals her desire for another houseguest. After realizing her misguided illusions of love, she decides to transcend her social expectations and redefine her ideas of love and marriage.
Darko Tresnjak, who directed “Amphitryon” at the Huntington last season and is the recipient of the 2001 T.C.G. Alan Schneider Directing Award, directs “Heartbreak House.” Although Tresnjak’s direction works extremely well with the design elements of the production, something does not work. The play is nearly three hours long, but it feels like it is five or six. Many consider “Heartbreak House” to be Shaw’s masterpiece. But quite frankly, the script is long and boring.
The direction and design are backed by extremely strong performances. Mia Barron gives a fabulous performance as Miss Ellie Dunn, and J.P. Linton perfectly captures the role of the eccentric and goofy Captain Shotover. Deidre Lovejoy brilliantly embodies the role of Lady Utterwood. Also appearing in the production are Amy Van Nostrand as Miss Hesione Hushabye, James Joseph O’Neil as Mr. Randall Utterwood and John Seidman as Mr. Mazzini Dunn.
“Heartbreak House” runs until February 3. The Huntington Theatre Company’s twentieth season continues with Russell Lees’ “Nixon’s Nixon,” Frank McGuinness’s “Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme,” starring Scott Wolf and Justin Theroux, and Jon Robin Baitz’s “Ten Unknowns.”
Tickets for “Heartbreak House” to each of the other productions may be purchased over the phone at (617) 266-0800 or in person at the Huntington Theatre Box Office, located at 264 Huntington Avenue, diagonally across from Symphony Hall. Rush tickets are available for $12.00 for full-time students starting 2 hours before curtains. Contact the Huntington Box Office for further details.
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