Fresh take on a classic style
We are at the mid-season stop on our season journey, and we’re heading to the charming English countryside for a relaxing comic romp. Stylistically, The Cottage could have come from the likes of Noël Coward or George S. Kaufman. In the hands of modern playwright Sandy Rustin, the play has a fresh, contemporary feel.
First, let’s take a look at the signature elements of a Coward-esque comedy. The dialogue is fast, witty, and precise. Think of conversations as quick volleys, punctuated by a sharp button or punchline, as characters score points in their battle of wits.
The characters are sophisticated and smart - or at least they think they are. This style also employs classic character types: the dashing, sharp lead; the foil; the loyal friend; the unexpected visitor; and so forth. These familiar roles give the audience a quick setup for the formula, so the action (and jokes) can kick off in earnest. And of course, in classic comedy-of-manners tradition, it’s the upper crust being gently (and sometimes not-so-gently) mocked for jealousy, vanity, and pride.
We can’t forget the setting - which, by the way, kudos to our wonderful scenic design and set dressing. The set provides a stylish, glamorous playground for the characters to make frantic entrances and exits, miss seeing each other by seconds, and, of course, slam a few doors. Physicality builds and combines with the sharp, fast-paced dialogue as the circumstances become more and more outrageous.
The plot nearly always revolves around some sort of romantic entanglement. In a Coward comedy, the couples aren’t cozy - they’re combustible. Things are cute and playful until something tips the balance, and then it becomes a battle.
Now here’s where Rustin puts her contemporary lens on the formula. Instead of the plot being primarily driven by the choices of witty, sophisticated, charming men, it’s the choices of the women that drive, and ultimately decide, the story. It’s that small refocus that takes a style of comedy that can sometimes skew problematic and lets us appreciate the considerable skill and craft it takes to bring it to life in a way that looks both stylish and effortless.
Right now, we all need to take a moment and enjoy some laughs.
Jamie Ulmer
Executive Director
Theatre Lawrence News & Announcements
