The Doctor’s Dilemma

October 19, 2015

Shaw’s incendiary story follows one Mrs. Jennifer Dubedat who  loves and idolizes her brilliant artist husband, Louis, who is dying of tuberculosis. She goes to the newly knighted Sir Colenso Ridgeon to convince him to save her husband. The doctor can keep only so many patients, and must choose who is worth saving, but is convinced that Louis’ artistic talents make him worthy. But when he and several colleagues meet Louis, they discover that he is in fact a smooth-talking money-grabbing scoundrel. They also learn that he has another wife, whom he has abandoned. So, the doctor has a problem: he can let Louis die, leaving Mrs. Dubedat with her idealized image, or save him and his artistic talents, but force her to face his many flaws. It’s Shaw taking on the entire medical profession; along with art, sex and finance.

The Doctor’s Dilemma
A Tragedy in Four Acts and an Epilogue
Written by George Bernard Shaw in 1906

ACT I: Sir Colenso Ridgeon’s Consulting-room in Queen Anne Street, Portland Place, London, W.
ACT II: On the Terrace at “The Star and Garter”, Richmond.
ACT III: Louis Dubedat’s Studio.
ACT IV: The same.
Epilogue: A Bond Street Picture Gallery.

Cast:

Redpenny … … Mr. Michael McCorry Rose
Emmy … … Ms. Nora Chester
Sir Colenso Ridgeon … … Mr. Michael Cumpsty
Sir Patrick Cullen … … Mr. Ames Adamson
Sir Bloomfield Bonington … … Mr. Paxton Whitehead
Cutler Walpole … … Mr. Marc Vietor
Leo Schutzmacher … … Mr. Tim Jerome
Dr. Blenkensop … … Mr. Dan Daily
Jennifer Dubedat … …  Ms. Rebecca Luker
Louis Dubedat … … Mr. Christian Campbell
Minnie Tinwell … … Ms. Blair Busbee
Mr. Danby … … Mr. Christian Ryan
Narrator & Newspaper Man … …  Mr. Jeremy Gerard