The Open Door is an interesting shot play by Alfred Sutro. A conversation between two loving hearts. Sutro examines the relief of confessed love, shock of reciprocal emotions and sadness that can accompany a desire that is unattainable. The conversation between Lady Torminster and Sir Geoffrey was clear at the end , even though he teased her about her gown. He offered her cigarette to gain her audience.
This was a potentially dangerous and risky encounter between these two people. Looking at the time this was written, the encounter at that time of the night [ 0200am] will be scandalous for a married woman. Still not clear why he considered them souls of their spouses.
Lady Torminster did not appear to be surprised by his love declaration, but thank goodness she did not fall for it . I was actually expecting a reciprocal demonstration of affection. This signifies the degree of mutual respect that existed between these two and between Sir Geoffrey and Jack as he clearly declared that Jack is the best and only friend he has in the world.
I commend Sir Geoffrey. for not taking advantage of a vulnerable situation [talking to a lady, dressed in her peignoir at 0200]. His decision to travel to China to me presents like an attempt to make her feel jealous. I am really curious about the interactions that exist between two after this revealing conversation.
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I agree with your post. Alfred Sutro created in this play aas a version of a love story that is forbidden. A love between Lady Torminster and Sir Geoffrey who are both very connected to Jack. Her husband and his best freind. I do not believe their meeting at 2 am was an accident. I think Lady Torminster was looking for an oppurtunity to have time alone with Sir Geoffrey. Sir Geoffrey was a gentleman and did not show any advances that were inappropriate that we could have understood from reading the play. I don't know if he was trying to make her jealous by going to China but that is a very good point of view. I thought the play could have been a little more exciting. It did provide a good visual of the drawing room and the hot summer July night.
ReplyDeleteI think that the Lady did not only want the incounter....she made it happen.
ReplyDeleteShe did more than her part to push the envelope.
When you say that she did not fall for the advances of Geoffrey kind of confuses me. She even goes a step further by stating her hubby bores her....
Neither of them had spoken ill of him until then....
More to come later. I had trouble getting this stuff posted and I had a long day at work.
I'm confused because you said, "thank goodness she did not fall for it. I was actually expecting a reciprocal demonstration of affection" but Lady T actually does reciprocate and confesses her love to Geoffrey and tells him she has known that he loved her all along.
ReplyDeleteI agree that there is a huge degree of mutual respect between not only Geoffrey and Jack, but also Lady T, as she could have done more with
Geoffrey if she really wanted to, but instead she was mature and responsible, leaving the talk between her and Geoffrey just that-a talk.
Also, I don't think the trip to China was necessarily to arouse jealousy in Lady T. I think that Geoffrey actually wanted to find someone else to take up his time rather than him pondering on Lady T all the time because it was no use since they could never be together. I believe that Geoffrey finally made up in his mind that he would try to give up on his feelings for Lady T and find someone to distract him.
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