Review: 'The Age of Innocence' at Hartford Stage

Hartford, CT - ‘The Age of Innocence’ is a play based upon the novel of Edith Wharton; the work was adapted for the stage by Douglas McGrath (‘Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.’) The beautiful play running at Hartford Stage was directed by Tony Award winner Doug Hughes. Hartford Stage is co-producing this play with McCarter Theater Center, where it will open the 2018-2019 season in the fall.

Edith Wharton (1862-1937) was born during a time when life in her tightly controlled society demanded that she simply marry well. Ms. Warton broke free from these expectations to become one of America’s greatest writers. The author of Ethan Frome and The House of Mirth wrote over 40 books in 40 years and won a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

The play is set during the Gilded Age in New York and there is some wry commentary about life in that era. There is a young gentleman lawyer Newland Archer, his traditional and demure fiancee May Welland, and May’s free-spirited cousin Countess Ellen Olenska, home from Europe and marked by scandal. Mr. Archer meets the Countess and is immediately torn between virtue and desire for Ellen. The triangle are forced to choose between love and doing the honorable thing.

I thought the adaptation was a good one; there did not seem to be any unnecessary lines or movement in the one hundred minutes presented without intermission. I was surprised to hear someone sleeping behind me and others complaining of feeling sleepy during the show as they were walking to their car.

I found this work to be an engaging enough story that I cared to see what happened to the well-drawn main characters. I liked the gentle telling of the story, steered by the older version of Newland. At times, the closed captioning helped me understand some lines better. I would concur that the play is recommended for ages 14 and up, mostly because of the level of sophistication.

Four time Tony Award winner Boyd Gaines masterfully played the character billed as “The Old Gentleman.” Juilliard graduate Helen Cespedes (‘The Cripple of Inishmaan’ on Broadway) was lovely as the innocent and shallow May Welland.

Sierra Boggess was radiant in the role of the Countess Ellen Olenska in her Hartford Stage debut; she understood the arc of a woman with an independence uncommon in her era and brought it to life with subtlety. Ms. Boggess’ Broadway credits include ‘School of Rock,’ ‘It Shoulda Been You,’ ‘The Phantom of the Opera,’ ‘Master Class,’ and ‘The Little Mermaid,’ in which she originated the role of Ariel. Andrew Veenstra was the younger version of the narrator, Newland Archer. One of the highlights of this production was getting to hear the two performers sing “Beautiful Dreamer.”

The lovely Darrie Lawrence was the matriarch Mrs. Manson Mingott. Deirdre Madigan was Mrs. Welland, the mother of May and a dutiful florist. Haviland Morris played the mother of Newland in her Hartford Stage debut.

Tony Ward played the role of Larry Lefferts, Mr. Van der Luyden, and Mr. Letterblair. Nick Wyman was Sillerton Jackson, Julius Beauford and Mr. Hickey. Josh Salt played Mr. Thorley, Monsieur Riviere and the grown son of Newland and May, Dallas Archer.

Ensemble members included Hartt School graduates Sara Norton, Dan Owens (‘A Christmas Carol-A Ghost Story of Christmas,’) Sara Schwab and Alessandro Gian Viviano.

The stunning scenic design is by John Lee Beatty; the lacy metal set is hung with beautiful period chandeliers and is masterfully lit by Ben Stanton. The magnificent costumes from the era were designed by Linda Cho (‘Anastasia,’ ‘Gentleman’s Guide’) and the wig and hair design by Charles LaPointe add to the authenticity. Although days passed in the action of the play, the characters did not change their outfits. Original music and sound design by Mark Bennett gently helped to set the mood; Yan Li was the onstage pianist.

‘The Age of Innocence’ runs at Hartford Stage through Sunday, May 6. On another note, Sharon Washington’s ‘Feeding the Dragon’ has transferred to Off-Broadway. The one-woman show, which ran as a co-production of Hartford Stage and Primary Stages, runs through April 27 at the Cherry Lane Theatre.

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local theatre venues and she posts reviews of well over 100 productions each year. In 2016, she became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle. She continues to contribute theatre news, previews, and audition notices to local Patch sites. Reviews of all levels of theatrical productions are posted on Naugatuck Patch and the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theater Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417