Theatre at Bridgewater College will present A Bold Stroke for a Wife by Susannah Centlivre from Wednesday, Feb. 15, through Saturday, Feb. 18, in Cole Hall on the College’s campus. The show will begin at 8 p.m. each night.
Centlivre’s A Bold Stroke for a Wife is a Restoration farce that tells the story of Anne Lovely, whose parents decided in their will that Anne required the permission of each of her four guardians in order to marry. Unfortunately, they are all very different people. They’ll never agree to the same partner for Anne. Enter Colonel Fainwell, who has a plan to be a different person for each of them in order to secure Anne’s hand. Despite being an 18th-century play, the humor and satire feel fun and contemporary.
The production will embrace some staging conventions of the play’s original period including universal lighting, where the actors and audience can see each other; cross-gendered casting, allowing all parts to be available to all actors regardless of gender; doubling, where one actor plays several parts; and direct address, where the actors talk to the audience in a way that acknowledges their presence.
Members of the cast include:
Erin McDaniel ’25, a liberal studies major from Greensboro, N.C., as Anne Lovely
Jam Mark ’26, a theatre major from Gainesville, Va., as Fainwell
Jon Northrop ’24, a music and theatre double major from Weyers Cave, Va., as Periwinkle
Elizabeth Gaver ’23, a global studies and history and political science double major from Hagerstown, Md., as Sackbut and Mrs. Prim
Abby Nester ’25, a music major from Woodbridge, Va., as Tradelove
Kenzie Ragland ’26, an undecided major from Staunton, Va., as Freeman
Grayson Preece ’25, a digital media arts major from Buchanan, Va., as Obediah Prim
Anton Kopti ’23, a computer science major from McLean, Va., as Modelove
Additionally, many of the actors are playing various ensemble roles.
A Bold Stroke for a Wife is directed by Aili Huber, adjunct instructor of theatre at Bridgewater College. Working with the production are fellow adjunct instructors Shannon Dove on set design, Ryan Howard on lighting design and Holly Labbe on costume design with hair, makeup and wardrobe assistance from Abigail Gaver ’23, a computer science major from Hagerstown, Md., Alison Nickels ’25, an environmental science major from Glen Allen, Va., and Circulation Supervisor Sylvia Jones. Matthew Ciccone ’23, a theatre major from Myrtle Beach, S.C., is the set assistant, and Bailey Morrison ’23, a digital media arts major from Floyd, Va., is working on graphic design.
The production is open to the public. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors ages 65 and older and non-BC students, and free for BC students, faculty and staff. Tickets will be on sale 30 minutes prior to the start of the show, cash or check only. Seating is limited for this production.
AT A GLANCE
Theatre at Bridgewater College Presents: A Bold Stroke for a Wife by Susannah Centlivre
When: Wednesday, Feb. 15, through Saturday, Feb. 18, 8 p.m. nightly
Where: Cole Hall
Tickets: $10 for adults, $8 for seniors (65+) and non-BC students, and free for BC students, faculty and staff. Tickets will be on sale 30 minutes prior to showtime, cash or check only.
Notes: Limited seating for this production. For those needing wheelchair access, at least 24 hours notice prior to the show date you wish to attend would be appreciated. Please notify Shannon Dove at sdove@bridgewater.edu or 540-236-4903.
Media Contact:
Logan Bogert
Communications Coordinator
lbogert@bridgewater.edu
(540) 828-5486
