Poor Clare at the Orange Tree Theatre review: this riches to rags fable is polished but tone deaf

This turns out to be Francis (Freddy Carter), clean cut and preppy until he swaps his city garb for barefoot hessian and his lush bangs for a monkish tonsure. “Is that a thing?” Clare asks, dubiously surveying his shaved pate, later adding: “It looks *hideous* on you!” She’s intrigued but baffled by Francis. Gradually, though, he makes her see the local homeless as real people rather than abstract recipients of alms or cast-off tunics. She dons a hair shirt (“Ewww,” says Beatrice) and starts shriving herself of jewels and possessions.