I actually thought Helen Little was pretty much perfect throughout. In the beginning she was meant to be a somewhat brittle character, charming but shallow. And so painfully young. I loved her understated acting...the woman playing Gwedolen in "The Importance of Being Earnest" in the same collection almost ruined the whole thing for me. And she just inhabits her part so well, and I found myself caring about her character so much, that I couldn't bear to finish watching the play the first two nights I tried. I hate spoilers more than anyone I know, but in the end I had to make sure she'd be OK before I could finish watching. And she was more than OK, she became a far better person than she started out. It's something that I've never seen done as well, I think, a total break with innocence, with the character remaining remaining good throughout, and stronger afterward.
But even, so she's not as interesting to me in the end as Stephanie Turner, playing Mrs. Erlynne. I suppose I knew this character would be OK, no matter what her circumstance. This was a more dramatic, darker, less innocent role, and I loved to watch her in both her light, flirty, Wildean mode and in her moments of revealing intensity, when she seemed to gain twenty years in a moment. Watching her switch back and forth was one of the amazing things I've seen an actor do. Her story, her character arc, feels incomplete to me in the best possible way. I hope she finds the courage someday to admit her secret. And see, that's what's so great about this story. I have that great feeling of being immersed in the tale even now, long after I stopped watching.
But even, so she's not as interesting to me in the end as Stephanie Turner, playing Mrs. Erlynne. I suppose I knew this character would be OK, no matter what her circumstance. This was a more dramatic, darker, less innocent role, and I loved to watch her in both her light, flirty, Wildean mode and in her moments of revealing intensity, when she seemed to gain twenty years in a moment. Watching her switch back and forth was one of the amazing things I've seen an actor do. Her story, her character arc, feels incomplete to me in the best possible way. I hope she finds the courage someday to admit her secret. And see, that's what's so great about this story. I have that great feeling of being immersed in the tale even now, long after I stopped watching.