Sabrina Fair: Ottawa Little Theatre an entertaining take on the classic movie
Sabrina Fair is a Cinderella story that makes wealth the key to overcoming class differences.
In the 1964 movie adaptation of Samuel A. Taylor’s romantic comedy, which premiered on Broadway in 1953, Audrey Hepburn played Sabrina. As the daughter of the long-time chauffeur of a rich Long Island family returning after five years in Paris, her combination of innocence and sophistication was so memorable that her performance continues to cast a long shadow more than half a century later.
In the Ottawa Little Theatre production, directed by Venetia Lawless, the slim, dark-haired Jane Chambers plays Sabrina somewhat in the style and image of Hepburn. She even sounds a little like the movie star, particularly in the exposition-heavy Act I. Despite her lively characterization, Chambers — and Lawless — might have been wiser to present a slightly different take on Sabrina. (In fact, the playwright’s son, David Taylor, has been quoted as saying “My father said — I think quite rightly — that to do the exact same movie that had been made in the 1950s was wrong, because the story didn’t make sense any more. [His] recommendation was: ‘At least cast a black actress!’”)
This aside, the OLT production is true to the time period (great costuming from Susan MacKinlay) and cast members have a clear understanding of their roles and social standing.
However, as the two couples of extras, presumably meant to show that the older son of the family enjoys manipulating others, add little to the show, it would make sense to remove there sections (if cuts are not forbidden in granting performance rights.)
Kudos to Cheryl Jackson for her very amusing and totally believable characterization of Aunt Julia and to Bob Hicks, as the family’s chauffeur. He is respectful without being obsequious, stealing his key scene in a very quiet way.
While quite entertaining, the stage play is not as effective as the first movie version. (There was a remake in 1995, which enjoyed less success.) I also have a problem with animals being used as props and would rather have seen a mechanical cockatoo for the short period a bird is required on stage (even if Zorro and his alternates may enjoy their moment in the spotlight).
Sabrina Fair continues at Ottawa little Theatre to March 7, 2015/
Sabrina Fair
By Samuel A. Taylor
Ottawa Little Theatre
Director: Venetia Lawless
Set: Graham Price
Lighting: John Solman
Sound: Lindsay Wilson
Costumes: Susan MacKinlay
Cast:
Maude Larrabee……………………………………Jane Morris
Julia Ward McKinlock…………………………….Cheryl Jackson
Linus Larrabee Jr…………………………………..Josh Sparks
Linus Larrabbee Sr…………………………………Geoff Gruson
Margaret…………………………………………….Roberta Robert
David Larrabee……………………………………..Phillip Merriman
Gretchen…………………………………………….Kate Corrigan
Sabrina………………………………………………Jane Chambers
Fairchild…………………………………………….Bob Hicks
Maurice…………………….Zorro, Benny, Norton, George or Lewis
Young men……………………………Tim Ginley, Max Chambers
Young women………………………Lydia Sarah Riding, Gabrielle Anderson
Paul D’Argenson………………………………….Alexandru Moldovan