American playwright Joannna McClelland Glass’s play ‘Trying’ was one the most touching and gently humorous plays of the year so far. The play was performed at the Ensemble Theatre, Kirribilli.

The playwright took from her own life the story for the play. The play charts the course of a very unusual relationship. In 1967, Glass went to work as the private secretary for Francis Biddle. In the play Glass calls herself Sarah Schorr. Biddle who at the age of 81 was ailing, cranky and set in his ways, did not immediately take to the young Canadian from Saskatchewan, who stayed with him for a year. Biddle’s formidable public career had included a term as US Attorney General under President Franklin D Roosevelt. It took Glass some thirty years after Biddle’s death to come up with the full length play.

Trying was a suitable title for the play. Both people, with their very different personalities, have to try very hard to keep their relationship going. Biddle’s haughtiness and arrogance is a little hard for Sarah to deal with, and much of the play was about seeing Sarah stand her ground, and earn respect from him.

Michael Craig’s performance as the former US Attorney General was compelling. His portrayal was of a brilliant man, full of facts and figures, and who had a really brusque manner. Catherine McGaffin gave an appealing performance as warm hearted secretary Sarah Schorr. ‘Trying’ was well directed by Sandra Bates. Nicholas Dare’s set design of Biddle’s living room evoked a cold old world feeling that feels a bit cut off from the contemporary world.