'There’s no possibility of being witty without a little ill-nature,' reads the tagline for , the biting comedy by Richard Brinsley Sheridan in 1777. Sheridan’s classic comedy of manners will play this summer at the in Stratford-Upon-Avon, fusing the worlds of fashion and theatre. Many iterations of have taken since its first performances, from modern-day takes to a '50s-style romp, but the RSC’s upcoming production takes the play back to its roots.
The costume design, which combines period flair with a Vivienne Westwood-esque twist, is enough of a draw, with huge structured skirts, romantic bodices and elaborate wigs taking a playful approach to period dressing. Similar to the RSC’s autumn production of Charlie Josephine’s , a subversive Western that sees the women of a sleepy town rethink societal norms after the arrival of an enigmatic bandit, is a play that explores people and their complexities. The story is set in 1770s London, where the value placed on good morals has taken a nosedive, particularly within the aristocracy.
Among the upper-class circles, there’s plotting, scheming, deception and betrayal; essentially, it’s with very big wigs. At the heart of the plot is Lady Sneerwell, a wealthy widow whose main joy is spreading malicious gossip and wreaking havoc on anyone she thinks needs to be brought down a peg or two. The conniving aristocrat soon sets her sights on Charles Surface—a dashing young man set to inherit his father’s fortune.
Along with .
