The Observer, February 17, 2006
Volume XXXVIII, Issue 17
Eldred show Look Back in Anger packs a mighty punch
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John Osborne's Look Back in Anger broke away from the common rules of theatre when it opened in 1956; a half-century later, it is still a departure from the norm. Jimmy Porter – the show's main character – marked the birth of the "angry young man" as a theatrical device. Jimmy does not seem capable of enjoying anything in life and likes to remind people of that fact. If he enjoys anything, it is berating others, especially his wife Alison and his friend and neighbor Cliff Lewis. Jimmy's treatment of Alison introduced me to levels of misogyny I never realized existed.
The atmosphere of the play is what I imagine a Discovery Channel documentary on human beings in their natural habitat would be like. The entirety of the play takes place in a lower-class, poorly-appointed apartment in the English Midlands in 1956. Most of the dialogue is accompanied by someone reading a paper or ironing clothes. The monotony of the setting pushes the dialogue to the forefront.
Jimmy is a poor, working-class man who has eloped with Alison Redfern, a well-bred daughter of a colonel. Alison's parents do not approve of the marriage and have cut her off financially. The class difference between Jimmy and Alison is already a source of tension and conflict in their marriage, but the action of the play gets more interesting when Helena Charles – a childhood friend of Alison's – comes for a visit.
The Department of Theater and Dance's presentation of Look Back in Anger is well executed and features a talented cast; though I think the messages of the play are lost on the modern college audience. Television and movies have shortened the attention span of our generation, so the play seems slow and long though the runtime is less than two and a half hours. I would recommend seeing the show with a very open mind; if it gets too deep and slow for you, you can at least laugh at its soap opera-esque moments and humorous animal metaphors. Also, use the two intermissions wisely; a full bladder will only make the action seem slower.
John DiAntonio leads the cast as Jimmy and plays the "angry young man" role quite well. Alison is both timid and strong, a challenging role which actress Alannah McCarthy portrays masterfully. Chris Delgado is entertaining as Cliff though his role seemed little more than a patsy most of the time and Jill Smith's Helena is high-strung without being annoyingly so.
The skilled direction of Ron Wilson and dialect coaching of Jerrold Scott are evident in the production and the quality of acting is higher than some professional theatre I have seen. The show was well-received by the older community members in the audience on opening night and most of the students in the audience seemed to enjoy the show as well. There are many pop culture references that are lost on a younger audience, leading to occasional confusion and missed jokes. If you approach the show with an open mind and patience, it can be enjoyable and thought-provoking. I would not, however, recommend seeing the show if you're in the mood for something light or overly comedic.
Look Back in Anger plays at Eldred Hall on the Case Quad through Sunday. Student tickets are $5 and are available at the box office or by calling 368-6262.
