Theatre UNB concludes its season with William Wycherley’s Restoration comedy The Country Wife. April 3-6 at Memorial Hall.
Theatre UNB’s final production of the season will be William Wycherley’s Restoration comedy The Country Wife. A comic romp that satirized the hypocritical sexual mores of the upper class, the play delighted audiences on its premiere in 1675 with its cutting wit and farcical bawdy humour, but was denounced by more puritanical critics for its indecency.
The Country Wife centres on Harry Horner, a notorious womanizer who spreads the rumour that he has become impotent in order to be allowed access to the wives of his high society rivals without suspicion. His ploy works only too well, and he is welcomed by no shortage of willing partners among the women, including Margery Pinchwife, a naïve but spirited young woman from the country who is seeking liberation from her oppressive and domineering husband. The play’s frank, darkly comic, and at times cynically realistic portrayal of human behaviour in matters of desire and sex has remained relevant over the centuries, and made it particularly popular among contemporary audiences.
Featuring a cast of fifteen colourful and outrageous characters in an ornate and whimsical Restoration setting, The Country Wife is directed by Len Falkenstein, with technical direction by Trent Logan. The play will be performed at 7:30 PM nightly from Wednesday, April 3 through Saturday, April 6, at Memorial Hall on the UNB campus. Tickets ($14 regular, $10 seniors/underemployed, and $8 for students) will be available at the door. For more information, email lfalken@unb.ca or visit www.facebook.com/theatreunb.
Theatre UNB | The Country Wife | April 3-6 | Memorial Hall, UNB | View Event
