(OUTview NW) Re-view: Intiman updates the 'Children's Hour' but Misses an Opportunty to Tackle Race

Can you guess Who is Who?  Photo: Bennion

by MK Scott

Last May, I attended my very first Lesbian-themed play, besides being an American Classic, the Arouet produced show literally was perfect from casting to space.

Jump start four months later, and the Childrens Hour, written by the Controversial and Brilliant, Lillian Hellman that was turned into a Mildly-successful film led by 2 giants (Audrey Hepburn and Shirley Maclaine) in the code breaking 1960's (1961 to be exact) is being performed by the Intiman but there was a catch, so keep reading. 


The Children's Hour is a 1934 stage play written by Lillian Hellman. It is a drama set in an all-girls boarding school run by two women, Karen Wright and Martha Dobie. An angry student, Mary Tilford, runs away from the school and to avoid being sent back she tells her grandmother that the two headmistresses are having a lesbian affair. The accusation proceeds to destroy the women's careers, relationships and lives.

The play was first staged on Broadway at Maxine Elliott's Theatre in 1934, where it ran for over two years, and in 1936 it was put on at London's Gate Theatre Studio and Dublin's Gate Theatre. This was Hellman's first hit play. At the time, any mention of homosexuality on stage was illegal in New York State, but the play was such a success and so widely praised by critics that the rule was not enforced, according to Wiki.

Ok, so the catch of the Seattle Intiman's production was being set in 1980's (Liberal) Seattle. OK, So what if the private school is run by a possible Lesbian couple? Right? So, in the previews, you see that the 'Couple" is interracial, so that would make it more controversial in the updated version, Right? That would have been interested to see, but the potential couldn't happen, because the roles were totally miscast.

Now, I was under the assumption that the Butch (and Black) actress,Tiffany Yvonne Cox would be playing the part of the confused and conflicted, Martha Dobie and the Sensitive (and White) actress, Hannah Mootz would be playing the part of the dignified and privileged, Karen Wright engaged to the prominent, white Dr. Cardin, nephew of the super society Dame, Amelia Tilford. Wrong. The roles were reversed.

As you may remember, I am all for diverse casting, but...only if it was for a part that made common sense. Back in 2012, the 5th Ave Theater made a controversial choice in casting a black actor as Jud Frey in Oklahoma especially when, Curley threatens to Lynch (I mean, Hang) him.  Because of the backlash, the 5th Ave, had to schedule a Q and A to discuss Race. Another incident was the 2011 National Touring Company of 'Billy Elliot" who had 4 young actors as Billy to choose from, but on press nights would push out one that just happened to be Asian. When that happens, you need to remember this is the 1980s and you are in the UK and you have the character's family a different race than that of  a young actor and expect the audience not to notice.

Bouchard's Amelia steals the show!  Photo: Bennion

So, back to the topic of the 'Hour', So we have Ameila Tilford (played by the wonderful, Suzanne Bouchard) who has more of an issue with "lesbian" relations at her grand daughters school, but is OK with her nephew's potential interracial marriage? Remember this is the 1980's, when interracial relationships were still a taboo subject and would overshadow anything else. Anyone who accepts that arrangement, who have not have an issue with a potential lesbian owning her grand-daughters school.

After consulting with my date, who knows the play well, and a black friend who knows the ins and outs of High Society, they both agreed by jumping to the 80's and not addressing the real conflict: Race, was a risk that didn't work well and was a missed opportunity.

I would have been thrilled to see an all-black version or a Black Martha and her crazy free-loading, Aunt Lily, giving Martha religious guilt. Even a 1970s, 80s or 90s update with a black Karen engaged to a black Dr Joe, nephew to a black Ameila, who  feels threatened with Karen's close relationship with the white Martha.

So, Missed Opportunities. Yes, you are "Guilty"!

The rest of the cast was Michael Place as Dr. Joe (Recently seen as Carl in John Baxter), who has that 80's sex appeal and Mustache, but has more chemistry with Mootz (Martha) than Cox (Karen). Oops!

Speaking of Cox, despite being miscast as Karen, she did just as great as Bouchard.

The 'Mean' Girls were their usual Bratty selves, but unfortunately no one stood out.

In my last review of the Children's hour, I called it Outdated, this time I am calling it really needs re-invention but in a way that makes sense. 


Intiman's The Children's Hour continues through Sept 27th at the Cornish Playhouse. Click Here for TIX!