{"id":108617,"date":"2025-02-17T14:43:06","date_gmt":"2025-02-17T22:43:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forallevents.com\/reviews\/?p=108617"},"modified":"2025-02-17T14:52:17","modified_gmt":"2025-02-17T22:52:17","slug":"waste","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forallevents.com\/reviews\/waste\/","title":{"rendered":"Waste"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Scandal, Politics, and Power Plays
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Once deemed too scandalous for the stage, Waste<\/em>, Harley Granville-Barker\u2019s 1906 political drama, is back\u2014and <\/span>it still packs a punch<\/strong><\/span>. Running through March 2 at Marin Theatre, this revival, directed by former A.C.T. Artistic Director Carey Perloff, wrestles with ambition, scandal, and downfall in a way that feels eerily familiar.<\/span><\/p>\n

At its core, Waste<\/em> follows Henry Trebell (played by Marin Theatre Artistic Director Lance Gardner), a fiercely ambitious politician on the brink of reshaping England\u2019s education system by stripping the church\u2019s influence from public schools. Trebell is relentless, methodical, and principled\u2014until his private life implodes. A careless affair with neglected socialite Amy O\u2019Connell (Liz Sklar) leads to an unintended pregnancy and a botched abortion, triggering a scandal that shatters his career overnight.<\/span><\/p>\n

The production leans into stark minimalism, with scenic designer Arnel Sancianco crafting an austere, almost clinical setting\u2014a fitting backdrop for the ruthless world of politics. Trebell\u2019s so-called allies, including Lord Horsham (Daniel Cantor) and Midlands politician Blackborough (Mike Ryan), waste no time in cutting him loose the moment he becomes a liability.<\/span><\/p>\n

There\u2019s no denying Waste<\/em>\u2019s intellectual heft. But it\u2019s a play where talk dominates action, and that won\u2019t be for everyone. The opening act\u2019s 30-minute seduction scene\u2014more verbal chess match than sizzling romance\u2014unfolds at a deliberate pace, testing the patience of modern audiences. From there, the drama becomes a series of high-minded debates on power, ethics, and governance as men in suits coldly discuss Trebell\u2019s fate.<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite this, the cast delivers performances that keep the energy from stagnating. Gardner brings gravity to Trebell\u2019s unraveling, while Sklar\u2019s Amy is more than just a plot device\u2014she\u2019s a woman caught in a system designed to discard her. Anthony Fusco commands the stage as Charles Cantelupe, the church\u2019s mouthpiece, while Jomar Tagatac\u2019s Dr. Wedgecroft injects rare moments of warmth. Leontyne Mbele-Mbong, as Trebell\u2019s sister Frances, brings a quiet but powerful emotional undercurrent to the tragedy.<\/span>\"\"<\/a>Christine Adaire\u2019s dialect coaching and Maggie Whitaker\u2019s period-accurate costumes add polish, but Waste<\/em> never quite shakes its sense of detachment. The weighty discussions unfold in crisp, measured tones\u2014high drama for the mind, but not always the heart. It\u2019s an intriguing study of how political and social norms evolve, but don\u2019t expect a pulse-racing spectacle.<\/span><\/p>\n

What was once a career-ending scandal\u2014adultery and abortion\u2014is now part of daily news cycles, making Waste<\/em> feel both historically distant and oddly relevant. Fans of period dramas rich in political and philosophical debates will relish the experience<\/strong>. For others, its slow-burn intensity and verbose style may be more of a test than a treat.<\/span><\/p>\n

One unexpected highlight? Marin Theatre\u2019s lobby display. Jason Sheldrick\u2019s sculptural installation on banned plays, along with striking artwork by Erica Deeman and Maeve O\u2019Sullivan, adds an extra layer of depth to the evening\u2014well worth arriving early to take in.<\/span><\/p>\n

To Experience:
\n<\/strong><\/span>Waste<\/em><\/span><\/strong>
Marin Theatre, 397 Miller Ave., Mill Valley<\/span>
Through March 2; 7:30 pm Wednesdays – Saturdays; 2 pm weekends<\/span>
Tickets:<\/strong> $10 – $85<\/span>
Info: (415) 388-5208 MarinTheatre<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Reviewed by<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
\"Mary<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n
Mary Buttaro<\/span><\/div>\n
Performing Arts Reviewer<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u00a0 Scandal, Politics, and Power Plays Once deemed too scandalous for the stage, Waste, Harley Granville-Barker\u2019s 1906 political drama, is back\u2014and it still packs a punch. Running through March 2…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"yasr_overall_rating":3,"yasr_post_is_review":"yes","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[838],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-108617","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-joseph-cillo"},"yasr_visitor_votes":{"stars_attributes":{"read_only":true,"span_bottom":"