Theatre: The Beaux' Stratagem - A Wild Tale of Cash and Love
- Running Time: TBC
- Online booking available
highwaymen, wenches, alcoholics and fortune seekers all having a whale of a time
- Written by George Farquhar
- Adapted by Thornton Wilder and Ken Ludwig
- Directed by Mark Humble
Brought up to date in recent years, George Farquhar’s classic Restoration Comedy sees Archer and Aimwell, two fashionable gentlemen (beaux) who have fallen on hard times, on the lookout for wealthy women to marry.
To help their scheme, Archer poses as Aimwell’s servant when they arrive in the city of Litchfield. Aimwell gets friendly with the beautiful Dorinda, daughter of Lady Bountiful. Meanwhile, Archer strikes up an extremely worldly friendship with Kate, Dorinda’s sister-in-law. However, she’s unhappily married to Sullen, a country squire, mad for hunting and (especially) drinking.
Obstacles to a happy ending include the fact that while Kate’s husband despises her, she is nevertheless still married, the innkeeper’s saucy daughter has fallen in love with Archer, Lady Bountiful mistakenly believes herself to be a great healer of the sick, and a band of brigands plan to rob Lady Bountiful that very night...
Tickets are from £13 and can be booked online here