The Country Wife
by William Wycherley

This year's gala production is a masterpiece of Restoration Comedy. For those of you unacquainted with the genre and the play itself, well suffice to say Titus Andronicus it aint. Think Carry-On meets Dangerous Liaisons and you'll get the idea. Its rude, crude, irreverent, bawdy, fast paced, totally immoral and tremendous fun.

The aptly named Mr Horner puts out the rumour that following a dose of the "French Disease" he is now impotent. Instantly every husband in town considers him the perfect companion for their wives leaving Horner free to seduce every woman in town. The arrival of the jealous Pinchwife however, newly married to an innocent country girl, sets Horner an altogether more difficult challenge.

Will the innocent Mrs Pinchwife succumb to Horner's charms?

Will Pinchwife's sister Alithea marry the hopeless fop Sparkish or will the rakish Dorilant win her over?

Will the husbands of the town find out the truth about Horner's "affliction"?

What is Mr Horner's China? Will Lady Fidget find it? Will he have any China left for Mrs Squeamish?

This is a superb piece of theatre with some fantastic roles for all concerned.

For more information contact Jack King at the theatre.

CAST
Horner..................Man about town and reprobate, Late 20's to 30's
Harcourt................Honest lover, Late 20's to 30's
Dorilant ...............Sidekick of Harcourt, Late 20's to 30's
Pinchwife...............Jealous husband, Late 30's plus
Sparkish................Camp amour, any age
Jasper Fidget...........Buffoon, 40's plus
Margery Pinchwife.......Innocent country girl, Late teens plus
Alithea.................Heroine love interest, 20's plus
Lady Fidget ............Sex starved harridan, 30'plus
Dainty Fidget...........Sex starved younger harridan, Late teens plus
Mrs Sqeamish............Sex starved middling harridan, Mid 20's plus
Old Lady................Sqeamish Matriarch, Late forties plus
Quack...................A doctor, any age
Lucy....................Sluttish servant, Late teens plus
Various attendants and a parson

NB Playing ages are a guideline only and very flexible