This yeat has been a banner one for local fans of Restoration comedy, what with Shakespeare Theatre’s production of Moliere’s “Don Juan” and Folger Theatre’s production of Pierre de Marivaux’s “The Game of Love and Chance.”
Now comes the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s version of George Farquhar’s 1707 farce “The Beaux’ Stratagem,” featuring a script with a rather unique pedigree. In 1939, Thornton Wilder began work on a modern language adaptation, while retaining Farquhar’s original period and setting, but only finished the first half before abandoning the project.
Two years ago, contemporary playwright Ken Ludwig was commissioned by the Wilder estate to complete the script, which is currently receiving its world premiere, staged by Shakespeare Theatre’s Artistic Director Michael Kahn. If “The Beaux’ Stratagem” doesn’t quite scale the delirious heights of the two aforementioned presentations, it still makes for a couple of hours worth of wonderfully silly entertainment.
The story concerns two penniless British rakes, Jack Archer (Christopher Innvar) and Tom Aimwell (Christian Conn), who take turns posing as servant and master as part of a scam to net one of them a rich wife. (Whoever succeeds will split the fortune with the other.)
In the small village of Lichfield, they hit the jackpot, finding, not one, but two wealthy, love-starved ladies, Dorinda Bountiful (Julia Coffey) and Kate Sullen (Veanne Cox). The main obstacle is that Kate is already married to the drunken son (Ian Bedford) of Lady Bountiful (Nancy Robinette), a would-be healer who gives the term “quack” a whole new meaning.
The convoluted plot takes yet another turn when the grifters become involved with a master highwayman, Gloss (Rick Foucheux), who doubles as the local minister. When Gloss attempts to recruit Jack for his scheme to rob Lady Bountiful’s home, Jack and Tom decide to kill two birds with the same stone by exposing Gloss’ perfidy and earning their lady-friends’ gratitude.
Kahn demonstrates the same flair for visual humor that he did in “Love’s Labor’s Lost” earlier this year. (An elaborate slapstick swordfight is one of the show’s highlights.) Kahn has also eliciting superb comic performances from his entire cast, with Robinette, Cox and Colleen Delany (as a saucy barmaid) being the standouts. And James Kronzer’s extravagant clockwork set is the perfect cherry to top this light confection.
‘The Beaux’ Stratagem’
The Shakespeare Theatre Company’s production of “The Beaux’ Stratagem” runs through Dec. 31.
Venue: The Shakespeare Theatre Company, 450 7th St. NW, Washington
Performances: 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays, 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays
Tickets: $19 to $76.25
More info: 202-547-1122 or www.shakespearetheatre.org
