"Enchanted April" - by Matthew Barber - Cannon Theatre (Devens, MA.) - REVIEW
(Cover Photo: Carla Perrotta as “Rose Arnott” and Jason Norman as “Antony Wilding” in a scene from "ENCHANTED APRIL" by Matthew Barber now playing at Cannon Theatre in Devens, MA. through April 6, 2025. Photo Credit: Shawn Cannon)
By Kevin T. Baldwin
METRMAG Reviewer
# 774-242-6724
“Were it only that some enchantment would step in for us all, to change what we have into what we wish for.”
- ("Lotty") / Matthew Barber
The Cannon Theatre
Presents Matthew Barber's
"ENCHANTED APRIL"
Written by Matthew Barber
Directed by Maren Caulfield
Producer Bob Amici
Stage Manager Meredith Brummer
Cast Includes: Laura DeCesare as “Lotty Wilton,” Matt Foster as “Mellersh Wilton,” Carla Perrotta as “Rose Arnott,” Peter Cavicchio as “Frederick Arnott,” Margaret Girouard as “Caroline Bramble,” Jason Norman as “Antony Wilding,” Kathy Lague as “Mrs. Graves,” Melanie King as “Constanza.”
Additional Creative Team:
Set Design - Shawn Cannon, Maren Caulfield; Tech Director, Set Build - Bret Bahe; Costumes - Shawn Cannon; Props - Maren Caulfield; Sound Design and Board - Bret Bahe; Lighting Design - Jake Snyder; Backstage Crew - Mary Beth Fletcher, Kathleen O' Connor, Nancy Roberts; Hair and Makeup Design - Shawn Cannon; Light Board - Jake Snyder, Shannon Provost, Michael Volpe.
Performances:
March 21, 2025 through April 6, 2025
(Contact Venue for Exact Dates and Times)
THE CANNON THEATRE, 28 Andrews Parkway, Devens, MA. 01434
TICKETS:
For tickets visit www.thecannontheatre.org
BUY TICKETS
COVID 19 PROTOCOLS
Contact Venue for Most Updated COVID-19 Safety Protocols and Information.
(Warning: The following review contains spoilers)
The Cannon Theatre ends the month of March with the entrancing play "ENCHANTED APRIL" which is definitely not to be missed.
All the performers shine in this story which moves from the bleak streets of a post-World War I London to the majestic and romantic Italian countryside.
Written in 2003 by Matthew Barber, the two-act play is adapted from Elizabeth von Arnim’s 1922 novel "THE ENCHANTED APRIL."
While based on the same source material, this stage adaptation has no other connection to either the disastrous 1935 RKO motion picture flop or the more successful Oscar-nominated 1991 movie adaptation starring actress Miranda Richardson.
Barber’s play adaptation opened on Broadway in 2003.
The original "ENCHANTED APRIL" Broadway cast included Jayne Atkinson as “Lotty Wilton” (garnering her a Tony Award nomination) Molly Ringwald as “Rose Arnott” and Elizabeth Ashley as “Mrs. Graves.”
"ENCHANTED APRIL" would go on to win the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New American Play and was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Play and a Drama League Award for Distinguished Production of a Play.
Now The Cannon Theatre has staged it and, even after a century of the book debuting and with the world changing so much since, von Arnim’s story continues to hold up well and may still resonate with many.
Cannon director Maren Caulfield has inventively staged the Matthew Barber adaptation with fine attention to detail, and the cast displays an equally invested sense of dedication to honor the von Arnim source material.
(Photo: Peter Cavicchio as “Frederick Arnott,” Carla Perrotta as “Rose Arnott,” Laura DeCesare as “Lotty Wilton” and Matt Foster as “Mellersh Wilton,” in a cleverly staged scene from "ENCHANTED APRIL" by Matthew Barber now playing at Cannon Theatre in Devens, MA. through April 6, 2025. Photo Credit: Shawn Cannon)
The story is set in the 1920s with the first act taking place in the city of London, while Act Two takes place in the picturesque Italian borough of Mezzago, located northeast of Milan.
Serving mostly just to set up the events that will ultimately transition us from one locale to the other, the first act runs seemingly brief, making the second act appear to run much longer.
Yet, as we become engaged by the story, and witness the chemistry develop between these characters, the run time becomes of little concern.
In "ENCHANTED APRIL," Lotty Wilton (Laura DeCesare) is a Hampstead housewife married to workaholic solicitor Mellersh (Matt Foster).
DeCesare is wonderful playing up Lotty’s determination to escape the incessant drudgery of her marriage, where her husband treats her either like an employee or an infant instead of an equal.
DeCesare has two emotionally driven monologues written by Barber that “bookend” the show which she delivers with great poise.
Foster is given some moments to shine comedically in the role of chauvinistic opportunist Mellersh, especially once the show moves into the second act.
(Photo: Margaret Girouard as “Caroline Bramble” in a scene from "ENCHANTED APRIL" by Matthew Barber now playing at Cannon Theatre in Devens, MA. through April 6, 2025. Photo Credit: Shawn Cannon)
Lotty meets up with her friend Rose Arnott (Carla Perrotta)…well, actually they are less “friends” and more like “congregational acquaintances” as they attend the same church (and Rose literally has no idea who Lotty is at the outset of the play).
However, a friendship is quickly struck nonetheless and the two soon make plans for an extended holiday together...without their husbands.
Rose is married to writer Frederick (Peter Cavicchio), and the couple have become emotionally unavailable to one another after suffering a great tragedy.
Cavicchio gives a fine performance as the loutish Frederick who has become so "disconnected" from Rose, he barely puts up a struggle when she announces her intention to go away for a trip without him…from him.
Perrotta stands out as the more stoic and conservative Rose, who is struck by Lotty’s determination that the two become friends and take this (both physical and emotional) journey together.
It should be noted there is a strong subtext of PTSD (“Post Traumatic Stress Disorder”) that is alluded to several times throughout the Barber adaptation, but without ever actually calling it that (since the condition was then known as “Shell Shock” but even this condition is never mentioned by name).
The above is understandable considering what the country and the world had just gone through during the first World War.
That said, any characters or situations to which the above condition may apply are approached throughout by Barber’s text with great sensitivity.
(Photo: Kathy Lague as “Mrs. Graves” in a scene from "ENCHANTED APRIL" by Matthew Barber now playing at Cannon Theatre in Devens, MA. through April 6, 2025. Photo Credit: Shawn Cannon)
The wives pool their savings to rent a Mezzago villa for a “Ladies Only Holiday” (“LOH”) or, in American terms, a “Girls Only Getaway” (“GOG”).
Jason Norman is quite charismatic as Antony Wilding, a British artist who has rented his Mezzago estate to the women.
Reluctantly, Lotty and Rose have enlisted the help of a pair of difficult and divergent upper-class women to share in the costs of the trip.
Caroline Brandle (Margaret Girouard) is a young, brazen socialite while, in contrast, Mrs. Graves (Kathy Lague) is a stout, older and highly proper British woman.
If Rose comes across as prudish then the character of Mrs. Graves must seem utterly puritanical by comparison, but she delivers much of the humor to be found in the story, as well.
Girouard and Lague excel at their respective characters as they become unexpectedly pivotal to the relationships Lotty and Rose have with their respective spouses.
(Photo: Carla Perrotta as “Rose Arnott” and Jason Norman as “Antony Wilding” in a scene from "ENCHANTED APRIL" by Matthew Barber now playing at Cannon Theatre in Devens, MA. through April 6, 2025. Photo Credit: Shawn Cannon)
Melanie King is an absolute scene stealer as Italian housekeeper Costanza, inserting many moments of some much-needed comic relief, especially in scenes opposite Mrs. Graves.
An additional nod of praise to King, Norman and Girouard who engage in a most authentic rendering of conversational Italian.
While The Cannon Theatre set is not necessarily minimalist, it is certainly sparse - but it is also extremely well-detailed, especially as we move into the show’s second act.
The above aided in the expeditious handling of scene changes and any quick set redressing required.
Costuming was top notch and well in keeping with the time period, especially noteworthy when transitioning from a more constrained, conservative English look to a more abandoned, free-spirited look perfectly aligned with the Italian setting.
Lighting was also used quite effectively throughout the show.
While the month of March may move out like a lamb, this "ENCHANTED APRIL" continues at The Cannon Theatre in Devens, MA. until April 6th, 2025.
So, do not miss out on seeing this enchanting show.
Coming up after April at The Cannon Theatre will be the fabulously funny musical “A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER” beginning May 9th, 2025.
For tickets, reservations and more information visit www.thecannontheatre.org
BUY TICKETS
Approximately two hours, 15 minutes with one intermission.
Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)
@MetrmagReviews
@Theatre_Critics
ABOUT THE SHOW
Sweet-natured Lotty Wilton is suffering depression from the bleak London winter, and from an oppressive relationship with her pompous solicitor husband.
When she sees an advertisement in the paper to rent a castle in Italy for the month of April, an idyllic spot “for those who appreciate wisteria and sunshine,” she jumps at the chance to escape her downtrodden existence.
Sensing an instant kinship with fellow housewife Rose Arnott, a severely angelic woman with sorrows of her own, Lotty persuades her along on the adventure.
Seeking to reduce the costs, the two ladies find Caroline Bramble, a beautiful and exhausted socialite, and Mrs. Graves, an overbearing widow, to round out the party.
As the month passes, verdant sun-drenched San Salvatore works its magic on each sad and hardened heart, healing grief and bringing hope.
And with the arrival of two chastened husbands and one attractive young artist, romance blooms again.
Matthew Barber’s"ENCHANTED APRIL" based on Elizabeth Von Arnim’s beloved novel of the 1920s, is a gentle and romantic comedy of manners.
Against the backdrop of a country still reeling from World War I "ENCHANTED APRIL" offers to its characters, and viewers, a necessary balm of sunshine and renewal. (STAGEAGENT)
ABOUT THE CANNON THEATRE
THE CANNON THEATRE was founded by Shawn Cannon and Bret Bahe, who shared a dream of creating a community theater – a place for learning, and great plays, a place where people could enjoy the company of others, laugh, and just lose themselves in the joy of artistic expression. Over the years, the theater incorporated, and then became a non-profit organization, managed so that every precious cent made from each production is carefully fed right back into the creation of the next. During the Pandemic of 2020, the theater was forced to close, as their overhead was too high, They began searching for a new space during 2021, and found it in the late summer of 2021.
THE CANNON THEATRE board, which still includes the theater’s very active and passionate founders, invites you to join us and experience this welcoming community, whether as an audience member, an actor, backstage crew, or even director. We guarantee you will leave feeling satisfied!
28 Andrews Parkway
Devens, MA. 01434
# 978-448-2108
