England in winter with its gray skies and incessant rain can be a dreary place, so when Charlotte Wilton (Avila Reese) spots a tiny newspaper ad offering a castle for rent in Italy for the month of April, she finds the temptation of a respite with wisteria and sunshine irresistible.
Lotty (aka Charlotte) soon convinces Rose Arnott (Tweed Conrad), whose acquaintance she makes at her ladies’ club, to join her, and their plans for a holiday abroad, sans husbands, begin to take shape. The money they’ve squirreled away won’t cover the costs, so they advertise spots for two other ladies to share the expense. The severe Mrs. Graves (Anne Ripley), a widow who hobnobbed with literary notables when she was younger, and Lady Caroline Bramley (Kate Fox Marcom), a young socialite who craves a change of scene, round out the foursome. So, with an intriguing mix of disparate personalities, the sojourn at Castello San Salvatore begins.
“Enchanted April,” the Ross Valley Players production currently running at the Barn Theatre at the Marin Art & Garden Center, is based on the novel “The Enchanted April” by Australian-born British novelist Elizabeth von Arnim. Matthew Barber adapted the book, published in 1922, into the play, which made its Broadway debut in 2003 and went on to become an award winner.
The story reflects Europe of the 1920s, when the established social order was changing, and women in England had won the right to vote and were gaining new rights. Social change also has an individual effect; thus, the action revolves around four women who are unhappy with their lives and are looking for something, even if they don’t know quite know what. “Something has shifted, and I don’t recognize anything anymore,” says Lotty, as she tries to identify the source of her dissatisfaction. Spring, though, is a season for beginnings, and the light and sun of Italy prove to be an antidote to the gloom, as the women begin to blossom and change.
This is a character-driven play, and with Cris Cassell’s direction, the actresses shine, each projecting a distinct personality. Reese gives us a determined, enthusiastic Lotty who seems as though she could accomplish anything, while Conrad portrays Rose with a reserved demeanor punctuated with bursts of emotion that reveal her insecurity and sadness, as she reluctantly goes along for the ride and eventually opens herself to new possibilities.
A perfectly turned-out flapper, Marcom delivers a Lady Caroline who is somewhat aloof yet shows her vulnerability, as she warms up ever so slowly. “San Salvatore is working its magic on all of us. Just at different rates, that’s all,” says Lotty, who perceives, correctly, that Caroline is more than meets the eye.
In a masterful portrayal, Ripley’s Mrs. Graves is stern and demanding at first, laying out rules and stating that “modern language” is not acceptable. Ripley subtly transforms her from a stiff-buttoned up old lady into a complex and interesting woman who becomes increasingly more relaxed in a gentle evolution reflected in her clothing, hair and even her speech.
Although the story focuses on the women, the husbands, Mellersh Wilton (Ron Dailey) and Frederick Arnott (Tom Hudgens), are integral to the plot, and the actors convincingly show the dilemma facing them. Today, their behavior would be considered chauvinistic, but men in the 1920s had grown up in a patriarchal world, so the changing role of women must have been difficult to comprehend. Thus, Mellersh is outraged at Lotty’s temerity when he discovers she plans to go on holiday without him, while Frederick, whose life with Rose seems to be unraveling, doesn’t know how to deal with her intransigence. Both turn in polished performances, with Frederick bringing an unexpected complication to the plot, while Mellersh draws laughs in a revealing slapstick moment.
Ross Berger plays Anthony Wilding, San Salvatore’s owner, and although earnest, he misses the mark, miscast in a role that appears to be intended for someone older, who can convey the experience of a man who has lived through a war and add the sophistication and élan we expect of an eligible bachelor during the Roaring Twenties in Europe.
Rounding out the cast is Maxine Sattizahn as the delightful Italian housekeeper Constanza, whose body language and humor add a light touch to a script filled with little gems. Listen for the word marvelous in Italian as well as English.
Malcolm Rodgers’ sets serve to contrast the dull grayness of Hampstead with sunny San Salvatore, as the characters move from dissatisfaction and uncertainty to clarity and hope. At first glance, “Enchanted April” might seem simple, but in reality it’s a thoughtful play with themes as relevant today as they were almost a century ago.
“Enchanted April” plays through April 15. Tickets are $26 general admission and $22 for seniors 62 and over and students 18 and under. Thursday night tickets are $20 for all ages. For more information or to purchase tickets, go to www.rossvalleyplayers.com or call the box office at 415-456-9555, ext. 1.