Wineke review: 'The recruiting officer' is a puzzling play

By Bill Wineke, Special to Channel3000.com | July 16

During the 18th Century, George Farquhar's play, “The Recruiting Officer,” was performed more often than “Hamlet.”

Today, admits William Brown, director of the summer production at American Players Theatre, few of us have ever heard of it.

Brown says that's a shame because “it is a magnificent play. It is smart, sexy and very funny. And surprisingly moving.”

I quote Brown on that because he has directed 20 plays at APT and is considered one of the best directors in the country. His opinion ought to count. And, for the record, my wife agrees with him. She loved the production.

But I couldn't figure out what was going on most of the evening and I never did understand what the purpose was.

It is a busy play, employing 23 actors, many of whom are on the stage at any one time. It is a funny play and the acting is brilliant.

The idea is that a recruiting officer, Captain Plum, played by Nate Burger, comes to Shrewsbury, England, to -- guess what? -- recruit men for the army. Plum, as it turns out, is fairly well known in town and has fathered a fair number of the town's children with a succession of women.

Read the full review here!