One of the pleasures of theater-going is letting go of past experiences, whether it's with a particular script or an idea or one's own history – and that list could continue for probably an entire page. People familiar with "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" are probably more apt to recall the Mike Nichols ground-breaking film which won Elizabeth Taylor an Oscar for her portrayal of Martha, the wife of a college professor – who just happened to be played by Richard Burton, her husband at the time.
But that was then, and now we have St. Louis Actors' Studio's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" The alcohol-soaked play set in the early Sixties still packs a powerful punch, vinyl records and all, a reminder on this Valentine's Day weekend that marriage isn't all bourbon and skittles. William Roth is George, a history professor at a New England college where his wife Martha's father is the college president. After a party at her father's, Martha, Kari Ely, has invited over a young faculty couple. Young, and let us add, unsuspecting. George and Martha, it turns out, fight at Olympic levels.
This being an Edward Albee play, it's all about the dialogue, as sizzling as a bullwhip. Ely absolutely owns Martha-the-termagant, bringing waspish to a whole new level. Roth's George reminds us that George is not nearly as passive as he's sometimes thought of as being, just waiting for the best time to spring, despite his fuzzy Mr.-Rogers-sweatered exterior. Honey and Nick, the young couple, serve mostly as foils for George and Martha, but Betsy Bowman wails with the best of them when the time comes, and Michael Amoroso seems permanently stunned by what he's going through, even when he tries to fire back.
John Contini directed, pacing well and giving room for whatever shreds of humanity Albee has left these souls. Patrick Huber's set and lights include a love seat that necessitates a great deal of cozying-up and perching on the back, a subtle piece of work that's very smart. Teresa Doggett's costumes are close enough to the period that it made those of us who suffered through them, girdles and all, smile.
A good show, but not recommended if you're in the midst of a bad marriage.
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
through March 1
St. Louis Actors Studio
Gaslight Theatre
360 N. Boyle Ave.