New Conservatory Theatre Center production of "Maurice"

Andy Graham and Roger Parsley’ new stage adaptation of the repressed novel by E.M. Forster’s “Maurice” has reached our country thanks to Ed Decker, Artistic Director of the New Conservatory Theatre Center. The theatre is presenting the American premiere of the story of young lovers, Clive and Maurice. The drama is faithful to the book although many characters have been left out to make the novel more presentable to the stage. The New Conservatory Theatre Center adaptation and directed with a light touch by George Maguire does its best to cram in a story that spreads easily across the pages of the famous novel.

E. M. Forster began writing the novel in 1913 but it was not published until after his death in 1970 due to the subject matter. Merchant-Ivory made a stunning film of the novel in 1987 that featured James Wilby, Rupert Graves and Hugh Grant in his first film role. The play premiered at the Above the Stag in Victoria, London in 2011.

The action takes place over time and space amid Kuo-Hao Lo functional, no-nonsense bare stage. As in the film the story opens in Edwardian England with a mannered conversation on the beach between Maurice (Soren Santos) and his schoolmaster Mr.Ducie (John Hurst) about the birds and the bees. “The sacred mystery of sex” the schoolmaster tells him.

Maurice runs the gauntlet as a gay man, book-ended between an oppressive Edwardian dogma and a devout Christian family. Taking in love, rejection and hypnotism, journey in not all sweetness and light. Maurice journey to awareness and homosexuality begins when goes to Cambridge where he meets fellow student Clive (Alex Kirschner) who discusses weighty matters as the Trinity and Plato’s teachings. Soon they fall in love. Separted by class, the two men embark on a romantic relationship but struggle to keep their feelings hidden from their families and the law. The biggest surprise comes when Clive returns from a trip abroad and announces that he intends to marry a woman. Maurice must choose whether to continue living a lie with Clive, to seek a cure for what British society deems an illness or to honor his true nature and desires.

“Maurice” reminds of me of those English plays that I have seen over the years in the West End. The English take their time in setting up the characters however it is well worth the wait for the “meat” of the play. The first act owes much to the play’s origins as a novel being rather wordily and slow moving. The second act moves much more quickly

The real strength of this production lays in the various tete a tetes between the lovers, who rejoice and then later battle with their sexuality “against the rest of the world” plus strong performances by the cast and smooth direction by George Maguire. An accomplished performance by the whole cast make the most of the well written dialogue.

Soren Santos gives a rounded and engaged performance as Maurice. He strikes a fine poise between sexual arrogance and shamefulness. Alex Kirschner delivers a fine performance as Clive a man who never seems to be quite as ease with himself. He is not sure if he is disgusted with his friend Maurice open homosexuality or the fact that he is still secretly in love with the guy or that Maurice has fallen in love with a hunky gamekeeper Scudder (Andrew Nolan)

Andrew Nolan is impressive as the earthy Scudder and some excellent cameos from John Hurst as Mr. Ducie the headmaster and the hypnotist Dr. Barry. Hilary Hyatt as Ada Hall keeps things on a lighter note managing to add some humor to the play. Lindsey Murray gives a good performance as Mrs. Hall.

Director George Maquire and the able cast work their hardest to bring life into the script and they succeeded with top form British accents. They have found new wittiness and tone to appeal to modern day audiences while remaining faithful to a novel written nearly a century ago.


“Maurice” plays through March 25th at the New Conservatory Theatre Center, 25 Van Ness off Market Street, San Francisco. For tickets call 415-861-8972 or boxoffice@nctcsf.org