Mrs. Malaprop Is Center Stage In
The CSC Revival Of The Comedy The Rivals
Premiered in England in 1775!

“If I had a daughter, I would send her, at nine years of age, to a cemetery for young women, so that she might receive a proper education,” declares the delightfully eccentric Mrs. Malaprop in one of the theatre’s funniest plays, The Rivals by Richard Brinsley Sheridan, which will open the Centenary Stage Company 2004-2005 season with a bang this October.
 

A part of the comic repertory for over 200 years, The Rivals premiered in England in 1775 ,when Sheridan was only 24 years old. A rousing satire of romance and materialism, the play was an hilarious exploration of the troubles one can get into when falling in love.

In a fast-paced and deliriously silly plot, the lovely Lydia Languish has renounced all material goods, and pledged her self to the young, but poor, Ensign Beverly, in order to assure that her love is true. Her aunt, Mrs. Malaprop, however, has other plans in mind for Lydia and is conspiring to wed her to the prestigious Captain Absolute. Unbeknownst of this, Captain Absolute has begun his own courtship of a young lady. Mistaken identity, misdirected love notes and a host of comic antics make for non-stop entertainment in this popular play.

In the style of the period, the characters names in this 18th century comedy are derived from something in their nature, from Sir Lucius O’Trigger to Mrs. Malaprop. It is from this play that the term “malaprop” became common usage, after the continual mis-use of words by the pretentious “Grand Dam” of the play.
 

Playwright: Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Directed by: Carl Wallnau

The Cast

Colleen Smith Wallnau as Mrs. Malaprop
Colleen Smith Wallnau returns to the Centenary Stage to portray the role of the inimitable Mrs. Malaprop. Wallnau’s credits include the Broadway production and International Tour of “Crazy for You, ” and the recent title role of “Mary Todd: A Woman Apart”, which debuted at CSC and moved to New York in 2002.

Al Morhmann as Sir Anthony Absolute
A New Jersey favorite, Al Morhmann, will perform the role of Sir Anthony Absolute. Al's most recent CSC performance was as Professor Harper in Another Antigone.

The Cast Will Also Feature
Doug Shapiro as Acres
Steven L. Barron as Faulkland
Amanda Baker as the lovely Lydia Languish

Performances

The Rivals will be performed Oct 8 – 24 in the Centenary Theatre on the campus of Centenary College in Hackettstown. Performances are Fridays and Sat at 8 P.M., Sundays at 2:30 P.M., Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., with additional matinees on Fri., Oct 8 at 2:30 p.m., Wed., Oct 13 at 2:30 p.m., and Wed., Oct 20 at 11 a.m.

Tickets

Individual Tickets

How to Purchase Tickets
Individual Tickets (and Subscription Purchases, when available) can be purchased through our Secure Online Ordering System or by calling the Centenary Stage Company Box office at 908-979-0900. Tickets are also available at Greene's Beans Coffee Shop on High Street in Hackettstown.

Secure Online Tickets/Ordering