'Enchanted April' Drifts From Dreary to Charming

"Enchanted April," a romantic comedy presented by the Vienna Theatre Company that concludes its run this weekend, is awash in sentimentality, retaining much of the distinctly old-fashioned charm of Elizabeth von Arnim's best-selling 1922 novel in Matthew Barber's stage adaptation.

But despite the "ladies' matinee" pedigree of the story of four Englishwomen who abandon gray London for a month for the sunshine of an Italian castle and simultaneously cast off the darkness that has encroached upon their lives, director Suzanne Maloney has crafted a light-as-air confection that both sexes can find delightful. If they're patient, that is.

That delight is primarily the result of outstanding performances from an ensemble cast anchored by Lorraine Magee's Lotty Wilton, a London housewife who sees a newspaper ad offering a medieval Mediterranean castle for rent. Her naturally sunny personality is in danger of being extinguished by her unconsciously oppressive husband, Mellarsh (Ken Clayton). But Lotty sees it as a chance for renewal, as long as the old boy doesn't come along.

To pay the rent, Lotty dips into the "nest egg" she has cribbed from her household allowance and enlists repressed, pious Rose Arnott (Jessie Roberts), whose neglectful husband, Frederick (Jon Roberts), is a globe-trotting writer, to go with her. Seeking more help with expenses, they advertise for two more castle-mates and are joined by Lady Caroline (Cassie Lee), an emotionally detached flapper, and Mrs. Graves (Harriet Pilger), an autocratic dowager.

That four such disparate women could successfully share a space for a month might seem questionable in dark and dreary London, where each has expectations to meet, some imposed by society (i.e., husbands) and others self-generated. But the golden Italian sunshine seems to erase their distinctions as their problems melt away. Of course, there has to be more to the plot than that, so the married women, Lotty and Rose, seduced by the romance of their setting, decide to send for their spouses. That leads to a situation involving a love triangle bordering on farce that results in soul-searching by all involved.

Maloney keeps the pacing unhurried and deliberate, which unfortunately makes the substantially long first act, which tediously sets up the situation to be explored in Act II, seem interminable. That undermines the play's charms.

But in Act II the gentle storytelling suits the gentle story as it finally gets underway. The contrast between the two acts is highlighted by the differing levels of attention Maloney and designer Grant Kevin Lane have given the sets. In Act I, set in rainy London, they did not even bother with a set, merely throwing a jumble of furniture up against black draped curtains and turning on a few lights. London is supposed to be dreary, but this is funereal and unattractive.

The lackluster set and flat first act resulted in empty seats following intermission the night the show was reviewed, but those who came back oohed and ahhed when the curtains pulled back to reveal a radiant Italian castle setting, all golden and burnished orange, set against blue sky. Frank Coleman's lighting evokes warm afternoons and balmy, star-kissed evenings. The women, except for Mrs. Graves, have traded their dark and constricting London wardrobes for carefree and colorful dress.

Here they are joined by Costanza (Rose Declercq), the standard country-house comedy maid, whose tart asides, even if muttered in something sounding Italian, get plenty of laughs. The estimable character actor Tom Flatt also shows up as Anthony Wilding, the owner of the castle, and his presence elevates the performances a few notches as his character's male presence enlivens the women a bit. The advice here is to stay with the play, and its delicate charms may seduce you.

"Enchanted April" concludes this weekend at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry Street. Showtime is 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For tickets, call 703-255-6360. For information, visithttp://www.viennatheatrecompany.org.