Candida

George Bernard Shaw's 1898 comedy "Candida" holds up remarkably well compared to many of his more difficult, dense and didactic plays. The Irish Repertory Theatre's thoroughly engaging and perfectly cast revival, as directed by Broadway set designer Tony Walton, is truly as good as it gets.

"Candida" observes how well-meaning, affable Reverend James Morell's life is thrown into turmoil by the arrival of the youthful poet Eugene Marchbanks, who is hopelessly in love with Morell's gorgeous wife Candida. When the men agree to let Candida decide which one is more desperately in need of her love, or rather the "weaker of the two," she responds with one of the most surprising and brilliant monologues in the history of English drama.

Like nearly all Shaw plays, "Candida" also involves political issues such as the woman's role in Victorian society and contrasts socialist and capitalist viewpoints.

The richly detailed set (the rocking horse was a particularly nice touch) reduces the stage to a very intimate space, and is complimented by a very careful lighting design.

Ciaran O'Reilly, who directed the Irish Rep's hit staging of Eugene O'Neill's "The Emperor Jones," starts off playing Reverend James Morell as a warm, affable fella. But as the play evolves and his character suddenly finds himself on the torture rack, he turns into a pouting, self-pitying cry-baby. There is a real innocence to O'Reilly's performance.

Musical theater diva Melissa Errico is has propulsive, self-assured presence as Candida. You can believe that she is a superwoman who can command a crowd of men without breaking a sweat. But Errico also brings real complexity and a sense of hurt when she is forced to make a choice between the two men vying for her affection.

Sam Underwood is effective as the youth Eugene Marchbanks, playing him like an overdramatic, zealous and sensitive teen and sort of a mama's boy. The round and red cheeked Brian Murray brings great exaggeration and a sense of shameless sleeze to the role of Candida's ruthlessly capitalistic father. Josh Grisetti, who made a splash last season in "Enter Laughing," is doned to the background as Morell's assistant, sporting a cheesy accent and smile, but remains a source of fun.

The Irish Repertory Theatre is certainly having a terrific season: Eugene O'Neill's "The Emperor Jones," the neglected musical "Earnest in Love," and now "Candida." In its way, this small theater company dedicated to an Irish angle is becoming one of Off-Broadway's truly best classical theater companies.