The Best of Friends

One of those rare little gems that is a magical confluence of a superb script, skilled theatrical actors and faultless direction. A one of a kind hour.

It is based on the extraordinary correspondence exchanged between three well-known people. G.B. Shaw, the Irish playwright and avowed atheist, Dame Laurentia McLachlan, a Dominican abbess, illustrator and Gregorian chant master and Sydney Cockerell, a well-known curator.

The actors inhabit the characters and even though advanced in years and with extensive lines to memorize, manage to convey the warmth and idiosyncrasies behind each individual.

Some regret the death of the great letter-writing era as exemplified by this play. I think we may have re-invented it with e-mails and texting. A debatable point!

This play is not to be missed. It is truly exceptional.

Dame Wendy Hiller and Sir John Gielgud, we'll ne'er see your like again!

9 out of 10.

"The Best of Friends" is a play adapted from the actual letters of three friends: George Bernard Shaw (the famous Irish playwright and critic), a nun, played by Wendy Hiller, and a museum curator, played by John Gielgud. It depends completely, but completely, on the acting and writing for its impact. There are no breathtaking locations (although the sets are attractive), no lively action, nor any tricky camera-work here. Only these three actors are featured in the entire play, and we learn of their warm, friendly and often hilarious relationship through the words that these gifted actors speak. The "dialogue"(if you can really call it that) is brilliantly witty, and the mind boggles at the kind of literate conversation that went on between these three friends, and at the thought that there actually was a time when people wrote letters like this.

Where or how does one begin to praise such a production as this? With only 3 participants, not including the bizarre, and mercifully short, fantasy sequence, and minimalist, though perfectly adequate sets, the program is rivetting and delightful. I would caution that it's best-suited for relatively mature adults, as its likely to be over the heads of children. The aforementioned fantasy sequence, though tame and harmless, contains nudity but, beyond this, the subtlety and sophistication of it would escape the comprehension of the immature young, creating only bewilderment and embarassment. The play's not suited to the young anyway. It's beauty resides in hearing the wonderfully witty, insightful, and erudite dialogue, often on serious subjects, performed by 3 masters of the craft. I don't think I've ever seen John Gielgud play a more ebullient and likeable character, one with a real sparkle in his eye. Patrick MacGoohan is virtually perfect as George Bernard Shaw. Wendy Hiller, grande dame of British theater, is exquisite as the nun Sister Laurentia. One can feel the sincere friendship and respect their real-life counterparts felt for each other. The play moves right along and is imaginatively staged. All the actors are extremely natural and believable in their respective roles. I'm not sure why the fantasy-sequence, a visualization of Shaw's satirical book on traditional religion, deemed "blasphemous" by Sister Laurentia, who refuses to read or accept a copy, nevertheless seems somewhat out of place. Probably could've been portrayed without this odd detour. It's brief, though, and causes no harm to the whole. The incident leads to an estrangement between the nun and the Irish playwright of "Pygmalion"("My Fair Lady")fame. The story features many humorous, as well as touching moments, especially toward the end. Comprised of 4 parts(as I recall), each installment is easy to take and never tedious. It's a joy from start to finish!