After Garside’s Career, a cautionary tale of the ill effects of pride and ambition by English playwright Harold Brighouse, made its successful US debut with an extended run in Boston in 1919, it was announced that it would come to New York. That never happened, and now, more than a century later, Mint Theater Company is presenting the NYC premiere of the socio-political satire for a limited engagement at Theatre Row, in keeping with its mission of bringing forgotten plays of the past back to the stage for a current audience.
The story revolves around the rise and fall of Peter Garside – a working-class engineer in his early twenties, living with his mother in Midlanton, in a relationship with teacher and Socialist activist Margaret Shawcross, and a member of the Labour Party, with a penchant for public speaking. When he comes home with the good news that he just received his BA from Midlanton University with first class honors, his overbearing mother can’t wait to brag about it around town, Margaret, to whom he just proposed marriage, expresses her worries about his professional plans and the addictive danger and vanity of being booked every night for speeches rather than being home with her, and his friends Denis O’Callaghan, Karl Marx Jones, and Ned Applegarth want to persuade him to run as their Labour Party candidate for Parliament’s House of Commons, despite Margaret’s legitimate concerns.
Garside’s decision to accept the nomination, driven by ego, ambition, status, and money, triggers a dramatic change in circumstances. His engagement to Margaret is ended; he meets with the wealthier and more privileged family of Mayor Mottram of Midlanton, whose wife expressly opposes his and Margaret’s Socialist agenda and imperiously threatens her employment; pursues his attraction to the Mottram daughter Gladys, who finds him amusing; quells a violent protest march approaching their residence by making an appearance on the balcony; moves to London, with his mother, where he enjoys a more upscale lifestyle; and relishes his newfound fame and signature power of persuasion, rallying crowds and sweet-talking people (often by evading the truth), and missing the important Parliamentary meetings and votes he went there to impact.
Under the engaging direction of Matt Dickson, an entertaining cast of nine delivers the ethical dilemmas and embraces the disparate personalities, classes, and political leanings with incisive wit and didactic humor, led by Daniel Marconi as the silver-tongued, obsessively driven, and enterprising social climber, who brings a range of emotions, uncontrolled self-interest, and understanding of his motivations to the role. Amelia White is hilarious as the domineering Mrs. Garside, who encourages Peter’s need for upward mobility, repeatedly insults Margaret, and generally injects herself into every aspect of her son’s life. By contrast, Madeline Seidman’s Margaret is a strong and perceptive, rational and controlled woman, recognizing his problematic behavior but allowing him to make his own (bad!) decisions, remaining steadfast in her dedication to the Socialist cause, and pointing out the mistakes he made and the childish self-pity in which he wallows.
Melissa Maxwell as Lady Mottram, Sara Haider as Gladys, and Avery Whitted as her brother Freddie laughably represent the greater money and finer taste, power and privilege that come with the Mayoral office, with Freddie showing more concern for their expensive furniture than for the struggling masses, and teasing his sister about the attention of Peter, who’s been emboldened by his increased salary and rising status in Parliament. Rounding out the excellent cast are Erik Gratton as O’Callaghan, Paul Niebanck as Applegarth, and Michael Schantz as Jones, singing the 1914 trade union anthem “Solidarity Forever,” manifesting their determination in advancing the Labour Party platform, utilizing the achievements and visibility of Garside, then angrily holding him accountable for his failure to perform what he was elected to do.
Vintage-style costumes by Kindall Almond clearly define the social classes of the characters, as does Amy Stoller’s distinctive dialect coaching, and the set by Christopher & Justin Swader cleverly switches from the Garsides’ Midlanton cottage to the Mottrams’ drawing room to Peter’s rooms in London and back to the cottage, with the entr’acte placement of period furniture piled upstage, and fitting props by Chris Fields. And the central theme of divisive politics is enhanced by Yiyuan Li’s lighting and sound by Carsen Joenk that inform us of the approach of an angry mob on the streets outside the Mayoral residence.
Will Peter’s dereliction of duty lead to his downfall, or will he charm his way out of it? Will Gladys respond to his advances, or will Margaret take him back for a second chance, with conditions? Will Mrs. Garside ever loosen her grip on her adult son? And will he learn his lesson, recognize what’s truly important, and return to his humble roots, or try to regain the power and prestige he lost? Find out in the Mint’s sharp-witted and resonant look at ambition, pride, and the havoc they wreak in Garside’s Career.
Running Time: Approximately two hours, including an intermission.
Garside’s Career plays through Saturday, March 15, 2025, at Mint Theater Company, performing at Theatre Row, 410 West 42nd Street, NYC. For tickets (priced at $39-99, including fees), go online.
In addition to the on-stage production of Garside’s Career, the Mint is also offering on-demand screenings of a three-camera HD recording of its award-nominated 2018 production of Hindle Wakes, through Sunday, March 16. Written by English playwright Stanley Houghton, the story of two young people who meet at the seashore and spend a few days of pleasure without commitment at a hotel in Wales – until their parents find out – made its debut in London in 1912, and hadn’t been seen in the US for nearly a century. It’s another welcome revival of a little-known classic that keeps the Mint’s mission alive, so if you can’t make it to Theatre Row, or even if you do, you can watch this from the comfort of your home, at your own convenience. Viewing is free after providing your email address and zip code; donations are welcome.
