Emlyn Williams' 1941 semi-autobiographical play -- about a teacher who, against formidable odds, helps an unlikely young Welshman escape coal mining to develop his literary talents -- unabashedly calls for two stars. It has them in local favorite Carolyn Michel, bursting with Miss Moffat's pep and determination, and serious FSU/Asolo Conservatory student Bryan Barter as belligerent but brilliant Morgan Evans. Since at times she tends to overact (what do those uprolled eyes keep looking at?), whereas his face seems frozen (whether he's rebelling at more study or being seduced), they play well off each other. That's true as well of the seducer, Laura Lowry's coarse Bessie, and the overly loud but funny Nicole Hess, as Mrs. Watty, who admits she "never liked" that daughter.
Just as Miss Moffat has reformed now-housekeeper Watty from thieving ways, she wins over her "saved" clerk and Welsh-speaker Jones (David Breitbarth, properly stiff while sincere) and another spinster who has been schooled and read a lot. As the ever-hopeful, at-first-helplessly-feminine Miss Ronberry, Devora Millman carves growing purpose out of that character. How she shines on from her first shy wish to please the Squire (Douglas Jones, good at grand entrances and gestures)! With his imperial ways and belief that happiness is...keeping social structures in place, he is Miss Moffat's major challenge as she sets up a school for adolescent miners and area children. Flattery gets her everywhere in the satisfying episodes of obtaining his cooperation, most importantly to recommend Morgan Evans for an Oxford scholarship and supervise his testing.
Unlike many plays today, The Corn Is Green has a three-part (though in five acts) structure which, with intermissions, makes it longer. Or seemingly. Add young kids singing curtain-raisers in Welsh, and the action seem even more drawn out. Still, Miss Moffat's sturdy house, full to the rafters with books, is pretty to look at with -- except for test time -- sun coming through the windows (yes, in Wales!). Good and evil are well defined. The story is inspiring. For young people, who probably have not seen the film or television versions of this play, graphic sex (only a suggestive luring) and bad/adult language do not trouble. Miss Moffat actually canes Morgan for showing off before his buddies by saying, when he meets her, "May I have a kiss, Miss?" Thus, the opportunity to introduce student audiences to the word "quaint."
