Come Back Little Sheba

By William Inge

Shattered Globe Theatre

http://www.shatteredglobe.org

 

“I want to live my life so that my nights are not full of regrets.”  This wish, penned by 20^th-century English writer D.H. Lawrence, still rings true today.  It is this wish, or the lack there of, that drives playwright William Inge’s Come Back Little Sheba, as we see the slow and painful erosion of a loveless couple’s lives, their deep regrets strangling any possibility of future happiness. 

 

Set in 1950, Come Back Little Sheba is the story of Doc and Lola, an aging, childless couple, 20 years after being forced to marry because of Marie’s unexpected teenage pregnancy.  Kept out of the hospital so as to not shame the family, the birth is botched, causing the death of the child and leaving Marie unable to ever have children again.  Because of the sudden marriage, Doc had to drop out of his pre-med studies and, in order to support his family, settles on becoming a chiropractor.  These misfortunes build the foundation of regrets that, over time, has buried any chance of love between the two of them.  When the couple rents out a room to Marie, an art student coed, these deeply-hidden regrets tragically come boiling to the surface.

 

The acting is superb.  John Judd, in the role of Doc, is exceedingly convincing as a man full of stifled anger, struggling with his sexual frustrations and alcoholism.  Linda Reiter, portraying Lola, brings to her part a perfect balance of desperate loneliness as well as the fear of an abusive confrontation with Doc.  The supporting actors, including Maggie Corbett (Marie), Jace Ryan (Marie’s lover, Turk) and Ryan Martin (Marie’s fiancé, Bruce), are masterful in developing this troubling tale.

 

The design team for this production has constructed a masterful setting for this production.  The set is impeccably period, from the gas stove and refrigerator, to the period Corn Flakes box, lamps and radio.  The sound design is seamless, even to the point of the convincing sound of the lighting up of the gas stove and the static while changing the radio’s channels.  The costumes and make-up fall in line with the rest of the design. 

 

From start to finish, through David Cromer’s inspired direction, Shattered Globe Theatre has pieced together a nearly flawless production for the start of their 16^th season. This show is not to be missed. 

 

Rating: Excellent (4 stars)