Candida
Playhouse, Oxford, 1958
Role: Eugene Marchbanks

Candida is a comedy by George Bernard Shaw. It was first published in 1898 and questions Victorian notions of love and marriage, asking what a woman really wants her husband to provide her with. -- Wikipedia

Jeremy starred with Dulcie Gray and Michael Denison in this production.

Eugene Marchbanks is an 18-year-old poet who is impetuous, utterly romantic, and desperately in love with Candida. His rival is The Rev. James Morell, a staid, mature, powerful clergyman -- and Candida's husband.

Candida and Morrell have befriended Marchbanks and invite him into their happy home. The poet proceeds to tell Morell how much he loves Candida and that she deserves better than the complacency Morell offers.

This talk starts to undermine Morell's confidence that Candida is happy in her marriage. Candida is attracted to both men for their very different qualities. Eventually, Morell insists that Candida choose between them. 

Candida asks each man to make his case. They do, and Candida elects to remain with the man who needs her the most -- her husband.

Throughout the story, it becomes clear that despite his standing in society, Morell is actually weaker than Marchbanks. Indeed, Morell owes much of his success to Candida. On the other hand, the idealistic and immature poet comes of age in his battle for Candida's love. He has the artistic vision and burning sense of vocation to strike out on his own.

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