Sitting watching this Sydney Theatre Company production of Mrs Warren's Profession, it's hard to know what's more shocking; that the characters in George Bernard Shaw's 1893 play discuss the merits of prostitution and being the madam of numerous brothels in a fairly frank manner, or that the fourth act of the play takes place in an office belonging to a female lawyer.
Shaw's leading ladies, Vivian and her mother, Kitty, the Mrs Warren of the title, are bold, fiery and full of intelligence and humour. Vivian doesn't mind that her once-destitute mother chose prostitution over a life of back-breaking work. But life is never that simple, as Vivian soon finds out.
The playful way Shaw employs language makes this a sparkling romantic comedy even with the risque and at times revolutionary material it covers. The cast are clearly enjoying themselves, no less in the moments of passion and intensity as when the script prompts loud chuckles from the audience. Lizzie Schebesta brings humanity to the straight up and down frankness of Vivian, Eamon Farren is a wickedly fun fop and the minimalist set dressing only serves to make the stunning backdrop stand out all the more.
Though Shaw's play is 120 years old, there's still plenty of relevance in this modern world and director Sarah Giles has done a great job of balancing its traditional setting with its modern ideas.
STC, to Saturday 6 April; extended season Thursday 4 to Saturday 20 July
