‘Graduate’ cast should learn from Fairchild

Friday, April 22, 2005 | 8:31 a.m.

The touring production of "The Graduate," based on the classic 1967 film by Mike Nichols, which was based upon a novel by Charles Webb, is in need of some post-graduate work.

Perhaps it was opening-night jitters, but there seemed to be a lot of blown lines and less-than-inspiring interpretation of some pretty witty dialogue, much of which was lifted directly from the film script.

The voluptuous Morgan Fairchild dominated the production, which descended almost to the level of a high school play when she was absent -- especially when only the young male lead, Nathan Corddry (Benjamin Braddock), and ingenue Winslow Corbett (Elaine Robinson) were alone together onstage.

There was no chemistry between Corddry and Corbett, but that may have been the fault of the structure of the play, which almost requires you to have seen the movie to fully appreciate the characters and their relationships.

For example, in the film we see the Ben character (Dustin Hoffman) falling in love with Elaine (Katharine Ross), and we can appreciate the ensuing conflict.

In the play, the leap to love is abrupt and unbelievable.

Fairchild gives Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft in the movie) a run for her money, although it is unlikely that anyone will ever capture the character of the alcoholic housewife as well as Bancroft.

But Fairchild does a good job of seducing the 21-year-old Ben, then becoming indignant and outraged when he turns around and falls in love with her daughter.

She creates a strong persona, one trapped by a life that has driven her to drink and find her pleasures where she can, such as in extramarital affairs.

There are a couple of seemingly nude scenes in the play.

In interviews, Fairchild claims she's nude in the play. She appeared to be nude to many audience members, but others swore this was an illusion -- that there were strategically placed molds or a body stocking.

It was interesting that this was the topic of the discussion by many audience members during the 15-minute intermission, rather than the quality of the production or the moral issues raised by the story.

Regardless of whether Fairchild was nude or semi-nude, for a 55-year-old woman her body is in great shape, and one could see why a young, disillusioned, alienated character such as Ben Braddock could be seduced by her.

One of the best elements in the play was the set, designed by Rob Howell. It consisted of three walls of slatted doors, which serve a variety of functions in the play -- entrances, exits, windows, closets.

The production opens with Ben dressed in a wet suit, sitting on the bed in his upstairs bedroom. His father, portrayed by William Hill, tries to persuade him to come down and join the party that has been thrown in honor of Ben's graduation from college.

Eventually Ben is left alone, until a drunken Mrs. Robinson slips into the bedroom and begins her seduction of a reluctant victim who at first feels ill at ease with an older woman whom he has known all of his life.

By the end of the scene Fairchild is standing naked (or semi-naked) in the dim light.

The play is actually a little racier than the movie. Bancroft didn't appear even semi-nude (except for a couple quick flashes of skin), and the lovemaking between her and Hoffman was more implied -- but Fairchild and Corddry perform a variety of simulated sex acts under the sheets.

Perhaps this was done to create enough interest among fans to inspire them to come see a play whose story was better told on film and in novel form.

The supporting cast generally was adequate. Dennis Parlato was especially good as the cuckold Mr. Robinson -- appearing first as the self-confident, rather slimy attorney and emerging into a hurt, bitter husband who has been betrayed by a woman he has given everything he is capable of giving.

But it is Fairchild who provides the reason to attend this play. With her in the cast, the production is tolerable -- to a degree.