Rivals

About this book

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