The Rivals

June 11 – September 17

If there’s one thing we’ve learned in recent years, it’s the power of a good laugh. The kind that bubbles up from deep in the soul and holds us gleefully, helplessly captive. This season’s answer to that basic human need is The Rivals – just the type of comedy we’ve all been pining for. Completely ridiculous, but with a full and beating heart, offering characters who are delightfully simple slices of humanity. Characters that, when held up to the light, reflect that humanity right back at us. (Lydia Languish? Jack Absolute? We’ll take one of each, with a side of Mrs. Malaprop). It’s a line these actors walk with grace and aplomb, and no matter which character enters stage right, you know they’re there for a good time. The return to joy we’ve all been craving – a big, beautiful, starlit comedy.

Featuring Tracy Michelle Arnold, Kelsey Brennan, Tim Gittings, Phoebe González, David Daniel, Josh Krause, Brian Mani, Ronald Román-Meléndez, James Ridge & Marcus Truschinski

Synopsis
Lydia Languish is bound and determined to marry only for love, a situation that she expects (and hopes) will land her in the poor house. This causes a conundrum for the wealthy Jack Absolute, who is in love with Lydia, but doesn't meet the requirements of being destitute. So to woo her, Jack takes on the persona of Ensign Beverly, a poor enlisted man. But Lydia's aunt, Mrs. Malaprop (a literary icon) can never allow such a love connection, setting the couple and their cohort off in a hilarious comedy of manners that APT hits right in the sweet spot.