116th Production
The Rivals
A Comedy by Richard Brinsley Sheridan
With incidental music selected from the symphonies of Mr. Boyce
Tuesday 25th - Saturday 29th September 1984
No play, whatever its literary merit, can last, as 'The Rivals' has, for over 200 years of regular revival without considerable popular appeal.
Wherein then lies this appeal? In its wit certainly, and in the genuine though comic presentations of its wealth of characters - rough and ready Squire Acres; dear silly Mrs. Malaprop, with her misuse of big words; the romantic Lydia Languish and so on.
Above all, though, it is the sheer high spirits that the youthful Sheridan poured into this, his first masterpiece, that makes it an 18th century romp not to be missed.
Dramatis Personae
Sir Anthony Absolute
Captain Absolute, his son
Faulkland, betrothed to Miss Melville
Acres, a country gentleman
Sir Lucius O'Trigger, an Irish gentleman
Fag, Captain Absolute's man
David, Acres' man
Thomas, Sir Anthony's coachman
A Boy, servant at Captain Absolute's lodgings
Mrs. Malaprop, a widow of Bath
Miss Lydia Languish, her ward
Miss Julia Melville, Sir Anthony's ward
Lucy, Miss Languish's maid
Maid to Mrs. Malaprop
Landlady at Acres' lodgings
Maid to Miss Melville
Gentlemen of the set
Mr. Elford
Mr. McCubbin
Mr. Squire
Mr. Dennis
Mr. Moate
Mr. Hagg
Mr. Bateson
Mr. Freer
Master Bacon
Mrs. Brown
Miss Edwards
Mrs. Hagg
Mrs. Bacon
Miss Bolton
Mrs. Wiseman
Mrs. Burns
Mr. Tong
Mr. Saville
Mr. Justice
Production Team
The whole piece prepared for the stage by
Management of the Stage by
Assisted by
Ladies' Costumes created by
Assisted by
Gentlemen's Costumes by
Illumination engineered by
Sound Effects controlled by
Settings designed by
Scenery constructed by
Properties assembled by
Publicity distributed by
House Management by
Box Office arrangements by
Mr. Hankinson
Mr. Bateson
Mrs. Johnson
Miss Watson
Mrs. Young
Mrs. Bateson
Homburgs of Leeds
Mr. Preston
Mr. McBride
Mr. Hankinson
Mr. Elford
Mr. Elford
Mr. Tong
Mrs. Lynch
Mr. Preston
Mrs. Westland
Miss Dadd
Officers for the Civic Theatre
Manager
Licensee
Stage Managers
Miss Ellin
Mr. Lucas
Messrs Holmes, Hickson and Moody