actors Darby Hinton and Kathrine Bates

A fun and highly entertaining way to wander through one of Los Angeles’ storied mansions is Theatre 40’s critically-acclaimed production of The Manor. The melodrama continues its remarkable run, now in its 8th year, at the magnificent historical landmark in Beverly Hills, the stately Greystone Mansion.

Inspired by the true and tragic events that took place in this historic and stately home, the play was written and co-produced by (and also stars) Kathrine Bates. With it she makes loose reference to the Doheny family.

Side note:
Edward Laurence Doheny was an Irish American oil tycoon who in 1892, along with partner Charles A. Canfield, drilled the first successful well in the Los Angeles City oil field, setting off the petroleum boom in Southern California.

Bates’ play touches on Dohney’s involvement in President Warren G. Harding’s disreputable dealings at Teapot Dome, an association which ultimately led to his eldest son Ned’s demise. For years Edward was subsequently plagued by intense litigation.

A beautifully constructed play, The Manor opens in the mansion’s stylish living room with one of the three servants, the family’s Valet, James (David Hunt Stafford / Phil Persons / Richard Large), directly addressing the audience solemnly while the rest of the cast drift about in a ghostly fashion. Suddenly, the music changes to an upbeat tempo and everyone begins dancing gaily at an engagement party, signifying a flash back in time.

After that introductory scene, the audience is then sorted into three groups and led off by one of the three servants. Bates apparently wrote the drama with a blueprint of Greystone Manor at hand, as, during the show, audience members follow the actors around the stately home, from room to room, with each group observing the plot unfold in a slightly different sequence of scenes to the other. It’s both an ingenious and practical theatrical device.

The gloomy, Gothic Tudor architecture and layout of this majestic Beverly Hills’ Manor certainly adds to the experience.

Starring alongside Bates, who plays Marion MacAlister, is Darby Hinton as her husband Charles MacAlister, the patriarch of the family. The twelve-strong cast are good, with Australian actor Jeremiah Dupre giving an excellent performance as the troubled, working-class Gregory Pugh who harbors aspirations of social climbing. Beverly Olevin directs the intricately staged melodrama with a sure hand.

For a fanciful glimpse of the past as well as a peek inside a lovely old mansion, you can’t go wrong with experiencing The Manor.

Side note:
As the audience members follow the actors during the play, comfortable shoes (and warm clothing for winter performances) are recommended.

The Manor is staged at 1pm on selected weekends, at –

Greystone Park
905 Loma Vista Drive, Beverly Hills 90210

Tickets are $45.00 per person

Please call (310) 694-6118 for bookings.

February 13, 14, 27, 28
March 27, 28
April also June and July dates TBA – check their website.

To be notified of any newly scheduled dates for THE MANOR at least two weeks prior to the general public, please call the reservation line – (310) 694-6118 – and leave your e-mail address or phone number.

Review by Pauline Adamek