The Rude Mechanicals in residence at the Greenbelt Arts Center present:
THE BEAUX’ STRATAGEM
by George Farquhar
directed by Jaki Demarest
See! Two broke boys scheming
to be not-broke in a gender-bending
‘How to Marry a Millionaire’ prequel!
Cheer! As our heroes fend off
local robbers, stewed possum suppers,
and dubious powdered hamster cure-alls!
Watch! As several quirky
but lovable couples disco their way
into happily, wealthily-ever-afters!
Building on the concept and 1950s setting the Rude Mechanicals used on another Restoration comedy, The Country Wife, we’re going the full WandaVision, setting The Belle’s Stratagem in the 1960s and The Beaux’ Stratagem (playing March 24 – April 1, 2023) in the 1970s: both performed in front of a live studio audience in glorious, mod Technicolor!
The Beaux’ Stratagem follows the adventures of two charming Manhattan rakes, Archer and Aimwell, as they work their way through Lichfield, Kentucky society in search of a wealthy wife. Whichever one of them marries ‘their wife,’ they’ve agreed to share equally in her fortune. The plan starts going hilariously off the rails, of course, when Aimwell actually falls in love with their intended target.
Showtimes:
Fridays and Saturdays, March 24, 25, 31 & April 1 at 8 PM.
Sunday, March 26 at 2 PM.
Greenbelt Arts Center
123 Centerway, Greenbelt MD.