@ The Black Box Theatre, 430 N. Main St.
(575)523-1223
 

The Rivals

By Richard Brinsley Sheridan, Directed by Monte H. Wright

May 25-Jun 10, 2018

FRI MAY 25, and JUN 1, 8 | 8:00 PM
SAT MAY 26, and JUN 2, 9 | 8:00 PM
SUN JUN 3, 10 | 2:30 PM
THR JUN 7 | 7:00 PM

Description

A Comedy of Manners, the play satirizes sentimentalism and sophisticated pretensions, without the typical eighteenth-century moralizing. The dialogue crackles with wit even today, over two hundred years after it was first penned. This play is the source of the term "malapropism," named for Mrs. Malaprop who uses sophisticated-sounding words incorrectly.

Credits

Scenic, Sound And Props Design
Lighting Design
Costume Design
Stage Manager
Producer
Sir Anthony Absolute, A Wealthy Baronet
Capt. Jack Absolute, His Son, Disguised As Ensign Beverley
Faulkland, Friend Of Jack Absolute
Bob Acres, Friend Of Jack Absolute
Sir Lucius O'Trigger, An Irish Baronet
Mr. Fag, Captain Absolute's Servant
David, Bob Acres' Servant
Lydia Languish, A Wealthy Teenaged Heiress, In Love With "Ensign Beverley"
Mrs. Malaprop, Lydia's Middle-aged Guardian
Julia Melville, A Young Relation Of The Absolutes, In Love With Faulkland
Lucy, Lydia's Conniving Maid
Assistant Director
Light/Sound Board Operator
Poster And Tee Shirt Design
House Manager Coordinator

Reviews

Details breathe life into 'The Rivals'
- By Mike Cook, Las Cruces Bulletin

Bathrobes.
I must admit, that's what struck me first in Black Box Theatre's production of Richard Brinsley Sheridan's 18th century classic "The Rivals."

I'm not sure if director Monte Wright or costume designer Lana Eckman came up with the idea of dressing the characters in different-colored bathrobes - the play is set in Bath, England, after all - altering each one in a unique way to fit the character. It was a brilliant idea. And it set the tone for a wonderful show. I also loved that Wright and assistant director Caryl Kotulak greeted the audience in period costume.
So many bravos for a strong cast and director - watch for a lot of "little" things like the candelabra at beginning and ending of acts - and other details that add so much to the show.

Bobby Senecal, Joseluis Solorzano, Joshua Taulbee (gold star performance here), Gorton Smith, Erin Wendorf, Karen Buerdsell, P.J. Waggaman, Doug Roby, Chris Sedillo and Virginia Ostendorf - they all did a great job.

The character of Mrs. Malaprop is one of my favorites ever and Nikka Zimmer brought the old gal to life in classic style, with lines like "Sure, if I reprehend anything in this world it is the use of my oracular tongue," and "a nice derangement of epitaphs!"
Remaining performances of "The Rivals" are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, June 1-2 and 8-9; 2:30 p.m. Sundays, June 3 and 10, and 7 p.m. Thursday, June 7.
Tickets are $15 regular admission, $12 for students and seniors over age 65 and $10 for all seats for the Thursday, June 7 performance.
To purchase tickets using Black Box's new online ticketing system, visit //www.tktassistant.
com/Tix/?u=NSTC/. For more information, call 575-523-1223. The Black Box website is //nostrings. org/.
Mike Cook can be reached at mike@lascrucesbulletin. com.

Seating

No seating plan has been posted.