The Rule and the Exception: Katharine Cornell and Peggy Wood Reviving Candida

Candida would become a signature role for American actress Katharine Cornell, but her initial outing in the part in 1924 was unexpectedly marred by a scheduling snafu that resulted in her being replaced by another actress, Mary Margaret (Peggy) Wood. At that time, Wood had only appeared in musical comedies and was an unusual casting choice. The opportunity for the public to compare two very different characterizations occasioned a reexamination of Candida and of Candida that not only pondered which version by two modern actresses was closer to Shaw’s original conception but reframed the play’s Victorian pedigree within a contemporary context.