Before the curtains close, the line “you never can tell” is heard one last time. By this point, delighted members of the audience chuckle at the truth of this simple statement. After all, its message has been repeatedly demonstrated to them over the past two-and-a-half hours.
A delightful wit comes to light in the dialogue of George Bernard Shaw’s “You Never Can Tell,” which is not often seen on the New York stage. A comedy of errors, the four act play at The Pearl Theatre Company running through Oct. 13, whimsically explores the themes of both family and politics as it follows the story of Mrs. Clandon and her three children at the turn of the 20th century.
Directed by David Staller and co-produced with the Gingold Theatrical Group, “You Never Can Tell” marks the launch of the Pearl Theatre Company’s 30th season. The play is set in a small English town where the Clandons have just relocated. There, the family encounters a man they realize might, in fact, be their estranged father. Soon after they’ve discovered his identity, the Clandons discover that they have inadvertently invited this man to lunch. And as one might expect, pandemonium ensues.
Shaw’s dialogue and story spin a web around the audience and ensnare them in his humor. He deftly juggles the ideas of identity and social issues while still making spectators feel as though they’ve been folded into another world. He displays a notably progressive manner of thinking, reminiscent of his famed play “Mrs. Warren’s Profession.”
The players of “You Never Can Tell” do a nice, if not remarkable, job of keeping up the play’s momentum. Several notable Pearl Resident Acting Company members head the cast, all of whom manage to bring Shaw’s play to life. Among them are founding member Robin Leslie Brown as Mrs. Clandon, Bradford Cover as the uproarious Mr. Crampton and Obie Award-winner Sean McNall, who sparkles as Mr. Valentine, the dentist.
The actors keep the audience roaring with laughter throughout all four acts, preventing the show from feeling like a saga that has dragged on too long. The scenes are fast, and the conversation is fittingly amusing. Every gag is perfectly set up so that when a character stumbles into a joke, it is only natural for the audience to respond with glee.
Elaborate sets and lavish costumes complete the production. All of these components come together to provide the perfect atmosphere for audience members to forget about the churning of traffic outside the theater’s doors and lose themselves within the show’s seaside resort for just a few hours. By the end, the audience has fully shared this experience with the Clandons, and the words “you never can tell” have never been more true.
A version of this article was published in the Wednesday, Sept. 18 print edition. Lauren Green is a contributing writer. Email her at [email protected].
