Rivals

The play is set in Bath in the 18th century, a town legendary for conspicuous consumption and fashion at the time. Wealthy, fashionable people went there to "take the waters", which were believed to have healing properties. The plot centres on the two young lovers, Lydia and Jack. Lydia, who reads a lot of popular novels of the time, wants a purely romantic love affair. To court her, Jack pretends to be "Ensign Beverley", a poor officer. Lydia is enthralled with the idea of eloping with a poor soldier in spite of her guardian, Mrs. Malaprop, a moralistic widow. Mrs. Malaprop is the chief comic figure of the play, thanks to her continual misuse of words that sound like the words she intends but mean something completely different. (The term malapropism was coined in reference to the character.) Lydia has two other suitors: Bob Acres (a somewhat buffoonish country gentleman), and Sir Lucius O'Trigger, an impoverished and combative Irish gentleman. Sir Lucius pays Lucy to carry love notes between him and Lydia (who uses the name "Delia"), but Lucy is swindling him: "Delia" is actually Mrs. Malaprop. (Summary by Wikipedia)

Cast:

Fag: Algy Pug

Thomas/Servant: Brett W. Downey

Lucy: Linda Hogan

Lydia Languish: Elizabeth Klett

Julia Melville: Arielle Lipshaw

Mrs. Malaprop: Mil Nicholson

Sir Anthony Absolute: Andy Minter

Captain Jack Absolute: John Fricker

Faulkland: mb

Bob Acres: Peter Bishop

Boy/Maid: rashada

Sir Lucius O'Trigger: Lars Rolander

David: Matthew Reece

Narrator: Mary Ann

Audio edited by: Elizabeth Klett