STAGE REVIEW : ‘The Fatal Weakness’ in Stanton Actually Has Many

At his best, as with the small classic “The Show-Off” (1924), George Kelly was a pungent satirist who knew how to wrap plots all around human foibles and folly.

But his strongest work, such as “Craig’s Wife” and “Daisy Mayme,” came during the early part of his career.

Later on, Kelly’s comedies often took on a harsh humor, even betraying a certain misanthropy that often divorced his audience from the business at hand.

“The Fatal Weakness,” now at the Stanton Community Theatre under John Craig’s direction, first was produced at the end of Kelly’s career, in 1946.

While it is not as abrasive as some of his plays, it’s still a weak comedy--talky, predictable and generally too silly for its own good.

Instead of “The Show-Off’s” seltzerish spontaneity and characterizations, “Fatal Weakness” offers an overworked story line based on infidelity among the upper class and a handful of boobish folks that can’t keep us interested for long.

The balmiest has to be Mrs. Paul Espenshade (Bettie Muellenberg), a woman so obsessed with romance that she scans the newspapers for wedding announcements, then makes an appearance, weeping all the while. Her “weakness” is so pronounced that she even gets dewy when thinking about her husband’s (Bob Ijames) affair with an attractive orthopedic surgeon. That isn’t romantic, it’s stupid.

Well, she does get angry every once in a while, but most of the indignation is left to her bitchy pal, Mabel (Lorraine MacWilliams), a society shrew who has nothing better to do than chart the dissolution of relationships.

Mabel really enjoys all the heartache.

Kelly uses her for laughs--Mabel has most of the tart lines--but she is not a very likable character.

The acting at Stanton tends toward a curt, high-society tone that is meant to pass for authentic but too often registers as contrived. Just about everybody has a vocal edge that apparently is supposed to evoke a self-interested, out-of-the-mainstream air that comes from being wealthy.

Still, MacWilliams does generate a few sparks as Mabel as she exploits the situation for her own amusement.

And Muellenberg, in the thankless role as Mrs. Espenshade, is occasionally funny when she drifts into her foolish reveries.

‘FATAL WEAKNESS’

A Stanton Community Theatre production of George Kelly’s comedy. Directed by John Craig. With Bettie Muellenberg, Donna Turner, Lorraine MacWilliams, Christine Swain, Bob Ijames and Paul Walker. Set by Peg Richardson. Plays Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. through Sept. 16 at the Stanton Cultural Arts Building, 11801 Cedar St., Stanton. Tickets: $4, $5. (714) 828-0843.