$20 General Admission
$18 Student/Senior
September 10 through October 3, 2010
Fridays & Saturdays at 8 p.m.
Sundays at 6 p.m.

Some women find themselves fulfilled by being their husband's needed support and help-meet; others are fulfilled by a life of adventure and passion. In Candida by George Bernard Shaw, one woman is offered both and then forced to choose between the two. Come revel in the wisdom, humor and wit of Shaw's tale of love, devotion, foolishness, and humanity in Candida, beginning Friday, September 10 2010 at the Knightsbridge Theatre.

Before Cougar Town and Sex In the City, there was Candida. Today's news and tabloids, Yahoo's OMG! and Perez Hilton's blog will tell of the scandalous nature of an older woman falling for a younger man. George Bernard Shaw may have been unaware of how prevalent the topic of his play Candida would be over a hundred years later... or was he? Candida by George Bernard Shaw was written in a collection of "Plays Pleasant," and was first produced in 1897. Considered by many as Shaw's favorite play, Shaw, rather than allow actors to read the play, read the entire script aloud himself. Shaw habitually thought of himself as one of the great geniuses of all time - his own words - and many people agree with his assessment. When it was written, Candida was immensely popular and had a cult following. Shaw referred to his ardent fans as the "Candidamaniacs," the 1800s version of "Twilighters". George Bernard Shaw, a novelist, playwright and photographer, is the only person to have been awarded both a Nobel Prize and an Oscar, for his contributions to literature and for his work on the film Pygmalion. Shaw wanted to refuse his Nobel Prize because he had no desire for public honors, but accepted it at his wife's request and as a tribute to Ireland.

At once, Candida is a romantic triangle, a feminist treatise, a moral dilemma, a question of faith, and a study of the mystery of human love. It is funny, wise, witty, touching, dear, and sad. It is a story about growing up and learning hard truths. It is about laughing at oneself and honoring those around you. At the top of the play we meet James Morell (Antony Ferguson); he is a popular parson with a golden voice, a passion for preaching, and an unconventional viewpoint. Morell is devoted to his vocation and his family. He treats his employees as equals and demands openness and honesty from all around him. Enter Eugene Marchbanks (Justice Leak), an equally passionate young man who writes poetry and searches for ideal love and supreme happiness. Marchbanks believes he has found these in Morell's wife, Candida (Marti Hale). Candida is a liberal thinker, a good homemaker, a teacher of the poor, a mother, and a romantic. Ideals clash, blind spots are discovered, strengths are found to be weaknesses and cleverness is revealed to be mere foolishness. Morell's certainties crash around him as he fights to keep his wife, yet tries to allow her freedom of choice. Candida is asked to choose between the two men and decide to whom she belongs, when she feels she belongs to herself. It is a play that still feels true and relevant today.

Director Carolee Shoemaker has directed many shows at the Knightsbridge Theatre and other venues in the Los Angeles area. These include Shaw's Mrs. Warren's Profession, Arcadia, Much Ado About Nothing, The Birds and School For Scandal for the Jane Austen Society of North America's Annual Convention; as well as Knightsbridge favorites Hamlet and The Grapes of Wrath. In this production at the Knightsbridge Theatre, Shoemaker revives Shaw's classic play. Candida is set in elegant Edwardian England in an English drawing room, designed by Joseph Benz, and with period costumes in sumptuous autumn colors, designed by Vicki Conrad. Cast in the title role is veteran actress Marti Hale. Ms. Hale is an established member of the National American Shakespeare Company who comes to us from the stages in Chicago where she worked with Steven Ivcich at the Tony-Award-winning Victory Gardens Theatre. Playing the role of the dynamic parson, James Morell, is Antony Ferguson. Mr. Ferguson's stage work began in London's West End, and continued in New York in Off Broadway and 42nd Street TheatreRow productions. His production of Moby Dick was nominated for three Drama Desk Awards. Justice Leak, the young actor playing the role of the sensitive poet Eugene Marchbanks, is a graduate of Auburn University with several film credits to his name, including a supporting role in The Great Debaters directed by Denzel Washington and the lead in I Am the Bluebird directed by Thomas Verrette. Rounding out the cast are Knightsbridge Theatre Company Members Karyn O'Bryant, David Stifel, and R. Benito Cardenas.

Click the ticket below for online purchase or call 323-667-0955 for reservations by phone. Thank you!