Greenhouse Theater Center & On the Spot Theatre Company Present SONS AND LOVERS Review—D.H. Lawrence Classic

A set of alcoves that allow actions from a cottage parlor, to country home, to factory floor ,to dockside and more--- the mix of birch trees and lace gives you a glimpse of what this production is going to be, even before it begins. What it is, is a very close hew to the classic novel by D.H. Lawrence—attempting to put a saga-sized story into a few hours.  In modern parlance one might summarize that this story portrays a mother who doesn’t know how to maintain boundaries with her sons, and how that shapes their lives.

The actors--- many seeming to be finding a break out role one might guess from the program notes --do a fine job bringing this period piece to life, in this writer’s opinion. However in the age old debate along the lines of – Which is better, the book or the play??—it doesn’t even seem to be a fair competition. Rather, at least for this writer, it’s a puzzle why On the Spot Artistic Director Mike Brayndick thought there would be any kind of trade up by dramatizing this work.   One doesn’t feel any buildup of dramatic tension, or feel a plot gaining in interest.

That said, this play will certainly have appeal for those who can’t get enough of classics on the stage. They will likely feel this to be an adequately acted period piece. The actors have the right accents down too. For many though, like this writer, the slow chords signaling the continuing scene changes perhaps will feel like a bit of an endurance test. The script, like the set, doesn’t quite stretch to the terrain one’s imagination does when reading the novel.

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Title: SONS AND LOVERS

Based on the novel by D.H. Lawrence

Adapted and Directed by On The Spot Artistic Director Mike Brayndick

Cast:

Pete Blatchford (Mr. Pappleworth, Bartender, Ensemble), Brian Boller (D.H. Lawrence, William Morel), Miles Borchard (Paul Morel), Emma Brayndick (Clara Dawes), Baird Brutscher (Edgar Leivers, Baxter Dawes, Ensemble), Heidi Drennan (Mrs. Radford, Mrs. Kirk), Stephen Dunn (Walter Morel), Amy Gray (Lydia Morel), Corrie Riedl (Miriam Leivers) and Tina Shelley (Mrs. Leivers, Midwife).