By Joseph Cervelli
Again the marvelous Mint Theater has taken an obscure play, this time Elizabeth Baker's 1918 "The Price of Thomas Scott," and revived it. This entertaining and reflective work first presented in Manchester, England, deals with prejudice vs. convictions. When does one end and the other take over.
The grown Scott children Annie (Emma Greer) and Leonard (Nick LaMedica) are excited that their father Thomas (Donald Corren) is going to sell his drapery shop which has not been doing great business. Annie who trims the hats that are also sold want to run off to Paris to perfect her art even though one of the lodger's, Johnny Tite (Andrew Fallaize), in their home (the action takes place in the back parlour of the business) feels she is the best trimmer in West London so why not stay. Of course, he also fancies her so that could be part of his compliment. Annie is an independent young woman whose goal is to go to Paris on her own and make her own way. It is always such a joy to find how far ahead so many of the young women in quite a few of the Mint productions are so emancipated. Especially giving the time period. Leonard is excited to know he will now have money for a scholarship to advance his career.
The problem in all of this is that Thomas is unsure about selling his shop to someone who wants to turn it into a dance hall which is going to serve liquor. It it was a Town Hall dance space that would be bad enough for the Puritanical father who finds even the theater shameful but a dance hall is even more shocking. It is quite interesting to draw a parallel between a man whose beliefs dictates how he behaves and is his money worth the price of his conscience. One immediately thinks about the bakers around the country over the past years who refused to create a cake for a gay wedding. If they don't believe in gay marriage should they still be forced to lend out their services. Corren gives an excellent portrayal of a man who is unsure of his final decision. His face is full of self doubts and his interaction with his wife Ellen (Tracy Sallows) shows his dilemma. While Sallows is good ,Baker never makes her role very clear. There was one moment when Ellen appeared to be crying but Thomas never questioned her which would have added to the plotting of the play.
Annie's good friend May Rufford (Ayana Workman) is excited because her father George (Mark Kenneth Smaltz) gives his permission for her to attend aTown Hall dance which is more acceptable. While costume designer Hunter Kaczorowski has created charmingly effective dresses and suits for the men, May's dress for the dance was rather surprisingly bland and unappealing.
In a turn of events, Thomas is about to now sell when he believes that Wicksteed (Mitch Greenberg) who represents Courtney Company owns a clothing company and not a dance hall until he discovers the opposite is true.
I kept wondering why the new young Baptist minister a Mr. Finnimore who finds even Shakespeare offensive is mentioned several times but never a character in the play which would have added some interesting dialogue.
Vicki R. Davis's sets are on target though the right side of the parlour seems more sparse than I would have though it should have been.
Sprightly directed by Producing Artistic Director Jonathan Bank and well acted by all this new Mint production is as entertaining as you usually expect from the company.
Tickets are available at the Beckett Theater on Theater Row 410 West 42nd Street or by calling 212.239.6200.
PHOTO CREDIT: TODD CEVERIS
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