"The Doctor's Dilemma"

August 23, 2017 — If doctors really have the sort of conversations acted out in "The Doctor's Dilemma," we're all in trouble. They candidly rate their success based on the number of patients they've saved against those they've killed. Of course, this was in 1904, but my greatest fear is nothing may have changed but the technology. In any case, fierce social critic George Bernard Shaw's comedy doesn't portray the medical profession in a very flattering way.

This was the 18th Shaw play produced by the Peterborough Players in Peterborough, New Hampshire, in 84 years, making him their most frequently staged playwright. I won't attempt to list all seventeen members of the cast and their respective roles, they were all very good, but the six principal actors, under the direction of Players artistic director Gus Kaikkonen, turned in some of the finest acting I've seen this season.

Sir Colenso Ridgeon (David Haugen), has just been knighted in honor of his development of a revolutionary cure for tuberculosis. First to congratulate him is retired physician Sir Patrick Cullen (Jonathan Hogan), wise but cynical, admittedly out of touch with the latest medical advancements. Soon to follow are Cutler Walpole (Tom Frey) and Sir Ralph Bloomfield Bonington (Kraig Swartz, in a role just made for his over-the-top comic style). The relationship between the four doctors is contentious, each convinced his own methods are the sure way to success.

Sir Colenso has determined he can take on no more than ten patients to treat with his new tuberclosis cure, but the first "dilemma" of the title occurs when Jennifer Dubedat (Karron Graves) comes to his office and pleads with him to treat her artist husband, Louis Dubedat (William Champion), critically ill and near death with TB. This would force him to drop one patient from his original ten, but Sir Colenso is so overcome with Jennifer's sad tale, he promises to treat Louis. But then he learns a young colleague with a promising medical career is also suffering from TB.

Louis Dubedat, when we finally meet him, turns out to be a callow young womanizer, bigamist and cheat, but nonetheless gifted artist. What does Sir Colenso do? Does he treat this unpleasant but fine artist who has the potential to contribute beautiful art to the world? And after all, he did make a promise to Louis' wife. But then there's his colleague, a young and promising physician who also has much to contribute.

This nearly three-hour play never became tiring. Shaw's witty and biting dialog kept the audience amused throughout, and the unpredictable, complicated plot kept us wondering how all this is going to shake out. This was my fourth play at the Peterborough Players this season, and there will be one more. The Players' great talent, strong direction and fine stagecraft have never disappointed me.