Wednesday, June 1, 2011
The Open Door- Kelli Firmin
The Open Door by Alfred Sutro was set in the 1920's and was about two characters Lady Torminster and Sir Geoffrey and their love for each other that was finally expressed to one another after many years of unsuppressed feelings. I think the title "the Open Door" is very fitting. I do not think it was by accident that Lady Torminster opens the door to the drawing room at 2am. She knows that Sir Geoffrey will be there and uses the excuse she cannot sleep to see him and have a conversation that will reveal hidden feelings they both share. Lady Torminster is bored with her husband Jack. They both agree what a good man he is and a valued friend to Sir Geoffrey. I find it odd after all these years the opportunity or an open door to express their feelings is occurring. Lady Torminster is afraid of Sir Geoffrey going to China and marrying. He states he will be gone for several years and promises to send things. He is leaving abruptly so Jack will not be suspicious and even may mention his wife has been like a sister to him. That is really odd description for your best friend's wife whom you happen to be secretly in love with.
I expected throughout reading the play to have some physical contact between the two or some romantic kiss or embrace. The only description of anything physical is the clasp of her hand and a hot tear on his wrist. Sir Geoffrey and Lady Torminster do not share the same feelings about Jack being boring. Jack saved Sir Geoffrey from been killed by a tiger. Although it still did not close the door for him being in love with his wife. Overall the play read easily I was looking for more action but I have to realize this was set in the 1920's and proper behavior was followed between the two characters
I expected throughout reading the play to have some physical contact between the two or some romantic kiss or embrace. The only description of anything physical is the clasp of her hand and a hot tear on his wrist. Sir Geoffrey and Lady Torminster do not share the same feelings about Jack being boring. Jack saved Sir Geoffrey from been killed by a tiger. Although it still did not close the door for him being in love with his wife. Overall the play read easily I was looking for more action but I have to realize this was set in the 1920's and proper behavior was followed between the two characters
You are right , they both agree that jack is boring , but I seriously doubt that Lady Torminster share the same feelings with Sir Goeffrey, She was actually startled by his presence in the room. However she took up the opportunity offered to sit and talk. I was also expecting some kind of action, but no,they were not on the same level.
ReplyDeleteI missed the physical between the two but I didn't actually expect it to develop into anything more.
ReplyDeleteThis play was short and just a snap shot of what they were feeling. It had been leading up to some sort of emotionally charged, feelings sharing event for a while.
I guess Geoffrey is willing to remain loyal for having saved his life and Lady T is loyal for being such an upstanding husband despite being boring...
Lady Torminster does share the same feelings as Sir Geoffrey and she reveals them at the end of the play. She says that she knew all along that Geoffrey loved her; She just wanted to actually hear it (as most women feel). And she has loved him and simply wanted him to know.
ReplyDeleteI think that Geoffrey indeed wants to hold, touch or kiss Lady T, but she instead tells him it is now dawn and she must be going to bed. In my opinion Lady T wants to do all those things with Geoffrey also, but she is a married woman who takes her vows to her husband seriously and feels it would be wrong to have an affair so she stops before it ever begins such that all that remains is attraction between she and Geoffrey and nothing more.