Last Chance: Throwback ‘Babbitt’ Has Lessons for Today
By • October 30, 2024 0 128
“Babbitt,” starring two-time Tony Award-winner Matthew Broderick and directed by Christopher Ashley, has been the hot ticket at Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Harman Hall this month. You have a few days left to take in this satirical critique of American society.
Playwright Joe DiPietro has smartly reset the 1922 novel, “Babbitt,” by Sinclair Lewis with almost the same issues and divisions we experience today, 100 years later: liberals versus conservatives, consumers versus persons, and so on
George F. Babbitt (Matthew Broderick) is a real estate broker at first loving his modern, convenient life in the 1920s — with wife (Ann Harada), son Ted (Chris Myers) and daughter Tinka (Ali Stroker) and best friend (Nehal Joshi). He goes outside his comfort zone to give a speech at a real estate gala. To his surprise, he is applauded and asked to continue his rally cry for conservative middle-class values. Political leaders converge upon him — and his life then takes a journey from conformity to rebellion and back. A affair with a flapper (Mara Davi) as his wife is sick in hospital?
The laid-back Broderick is perfect in his role. His staid character enters the plays while sleeping happily on a stack of books, telling you something of his nature. The brilliant cast — also storytellers — propel his play with vibrant, ordered energy. Designer Walt Spangler’s stagecraft is spare but sharp. Lindo Cho’s costume designs pop.
The top-drawer performances do annunciate timeless American parables, although today’s societal and political conditions — and, of course, that pesky election in November — make our present reality so overbearing and inescapable, taking some air out of the play.
Nevertheless, run to this perfect production for our imperfect world. And let the world of the theater enchant you and reveal that conflicts can still have a resolution, sort of.
“Babbitt” — two hours and 10 minutes with one 15-minute intermission — runs through Nov. 3 at Shakespeare Theatre Company, Harman Hall, 610 F St. NW. For more information, call 202-547-1122, or go online.
Mara Davi and Matthew Broderick in Babbitt” at Shakespeare Theatre Company. Photo by Teresa Castracane Photography.
Judy Kaye, Chris Myers, Matthew Broderick, Mara Davi and Matt McGrath in Babbitt” at Shakespeare Theatre Company. Photo by Teresa Castracane Photography.
