‘The Beaux’ Stratagem’ pokes fun at marriage at A Noise Within theater

Through the centuries, the institution of marriage has received its fair share of potshots from various playwrights. Rarely has it felt the sting more sharply than in The Beaux’ Stratagem, shaped by three playwrights from three centuries–the Restoration period to the present day. Sharply, but with wit and ribald humor as it plays at A Noise Within theater in Pasadena.
Two young gents set out from London in the early 1700s to regain their fortunes wherever their path leads through the bucolic countryside. Not that these rogues are looking for work; rather they are hoping to come upon rich young widows who will be vulnerable to their charms. They’ve plotted every detail of their deception, with Blake Ellis playing the oafish manservant to Freddy Douglas’s gentleman. Upon arriving at an inn, they gain proprietor Boniface’s trust (Apollo Dukakis) by asking him, as a ruse, to safe-keep their remaining funds.
But they don’t have a corner on deception. Boniface has intrigues of his own. And Time Winters is both a highwayman robber and a man of the cloth. Deborah Strang regales us when she carries on as Lady Bountiful, self-appointed healer, exuberantly using potions and some of her kitchen utensils! The plot, of course, is an exaggerated farce, and the characters overdrawn. But we quickly buy into them because they’re just plain hilarious!
Luscious Mrs. Sullen (Abby Craden) in her aristocratic gowns cynically warns Dorinda (Malia Wright) about marriage and all its abysmal attributes. As well she might, for she’s wed to an incorrigible souse (Robertson Dean.) Dorinda, however, is a dreamy-eyed maiden who longs for love….even if it entails marriage.
But when Archer and Aimwell, the gentleman and manservant, arrive on the scene, both ladies are enchanted. Little do they suspect they are being duped. And before long, they aren’t, for both of the “beaux” have fallen passionately in love, with all its complications—true identities, motives, the staggering spouse….
Ahh, but this springtime, and all the intricacies must somehow be resolved, as they surely will be at A Noise Within through May 26.
The handsome stage segues from inn to church to bedroom with the help of the scampering staff—but at each scene change, some side-action holds our attention. Clever lighting and sound effects enhance the romantic scenes. Rich period costuming is designed by Angela Balogh Calin .
The three-century link begins when The Beaux’ Stratagem opened to great success in early 1707, just weeks before playwright George Farquhar’s death. Since then it has been performed only once in each century: 1751, 1843 and briefly in 1928 in Broadway. It wasn’t resurrected until the 1930s when Thornton Wilder agreed to do an adaptation of the play. Despite months of working on it, Wilder left it unfinished. His nephew Tappan Wilder rediscovered the manuscript in 2000 and asked Ken Ludwig to complete it. Thus The Beaux’ Stratagem is the product of three playwrights’ creativity over three centuries.
Others in the cast of superb repertory players include Alison Elliott, Alan Blumenfeld, Luke Peckinpaugh, Joel Swetow, Jesse Peri, Abigail Marks, Jamie Sadd, Mary Regalado, and Seth Freed. Julia Rodriguez-Elliott directs the levity with just the right touch to keep it from becoming absurd.
The Beaux’ Stratagem runs weekends at A Noise Within through May 26. Contact the box office at 626-356-3100, or online at www.anoisewithin.org for updated pricing and seating availability.
A Noise Within is located at 3352 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena. Free parking is available in the Metro station which can be accessed off Halstead or from the Sierra Madre Villa off ramp of the 210 Foothill Freeway.

-Photo by Craig Schwartz

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