MRS. WARREN’S PROFESSION
Even Mrs. Warren’s less sensational but much more subversive observation that “the only way for a woman to provide for herself decently is for her to be good to some man that can afford to be good to her” comes across now as standard, if somewhat premature, feminism. And again, not at all unpleasant.
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And yet, seeing Mrs. Warren in its new Northlight production left me with a distinctly creepy, uneasy feeling. For all that Shaw’s been absorbed or defanged by the 20th century, he and his play had nevertheless managed to disturb me, make me face something I didn’t care to face. Still unpleasant after all these years.
Now Vivie’s all grown up, and Mrs. Warren wants to start collecting dividends on her investment. She wants a share in Vivie’s respectability. More, she wants the love she figures Vivie owes her as a mother. But the family system as she’s worked it doesn’t convert pound notes to love. It’s just not part of the program. Like Cordelia, Vivie’s prepared to offer Mrs. Warren what she’s owed according to her bond; but the deal as Vivie conceives it doesn’t include a lot of the heavy emotional return her mother demands. Shit in, shit out: Mrs. Warren gets shit back from her family system.
Art accompanying story in printed newspaper (not available in this archive): photo/Mark Avery.
