|
|
Review of The Rivals A well-written play is an excellent piece of literature, but the performance of the play determines its success. The Shakespeare Theatre in Washington, D.C. produced an outstanding production of Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s The Rivals, a comical romance set in the nineteenth century. The play’s success is due to the outstanding performance by the cast, as well as the producer’s unbeatable theatrical techniques to appeal to a twenty-first century audience. The actors in the play fulfilled their roles in a variety of ways. The costumes were neatly designed, and they reflected the personalities of the characters. Bob Acres, a rather wealthy man of the upper middleclass, was presented as an outgoing, yet uncivilized character. He first appeared on stage in a grubby green jacket and mucky leather pants, his hair portraying the rugged life he lived, and a dead varmint in his hand. With his physical appearance, he stood out from the rest of the civilized, well-mannered, and sophisticated cast. As a result, Bob was viewed as the uncivilized individual in the play. After his initial conversation with Captain Jack Absolute and Faulkland, he sat at the side of the stage eating a meal provided by Captain Absolute. However, the audience failed to totally focus on the following conversation between Captain Absolute and Sir Anthony Absolute because Bob’s table manner’s displayed off to the side were intriguingly humorous.
|
