Husbands, lock up your ladies…The Country Wife is coming to town. Brought to you as a co-production between HoNkBarK! and Vital Theatre Company, William Wycherley’s ribald Restoration play will run from January 5, 2007 through January 27, 2007 at the McGinn Cazale Theatre (2162 Broadway) in NYC. Previews begin Jan. 5 for a Jan. 8 opening. The Country Wife follows notorious ladies man, Harry Horner, and his ruthless scheme for rampant seduction. By spreading the rumor of his own impotence, he is able to gain access to the so-called “virtuous” ladies of society who are all too willing to join in the fun. Meanwhile, a new husband desperately attempts to hide his naïve country bride from the predatory men of the town. When she and Horner quite literally collide, bawdiness ensues. Banned from the stage for almost 200 years, this scandalous satire is as potent today as it was in 1675. The cast features Broadway veteran Maurice Edwards (Sir Jasper Fidget), whose Broadway credits include Happy as Larry (1950), The Golden Apple (1954) and the original production of Fiddler on the Roof (1964). Robert Lehrer (Quack) may be familiar as Mr. Garret from Hope and Faith. Also featured are Brian Linden (Sparkish), a 2005 New York Innovative Theatre Award nominee and two-time Emmy Award-winner, Laura LeBleu (Lady Fidget). Director John Ficarra brings with him a background steeped in Restoration style. While earning his MFA at the Bristol Old Vic in England, he studied with master teacher Rudy Shelly, learning the intricacies of the period’s manners and movement. Owner of Combat Incorporated (www.combatinc.com), John is an accomplished fight choreographer whose past New York directing credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream for HoNkBarK! and Vital Theatre, and Scalpel at the 2004 NY International Fringe Festival, for which he won an Award of Excellence. HoNkBarK! was created by four female friends from San Francisco who moved to NYC around the same time. After a year or so of meeting up for cocktails and to swap stories about the absurd life of a New York actor, they realized they had to create their own theatrical reality. The name HoNkBarK! comes from the sound that a newly discovered monkey, the Highland Mangabey, makes. It’s very funny and a little odd (much like the ladies of HoNkBarK!) and was adopted as both their name and artistic battle cry.
Now in its ninth season, Vital Theatre Company has received an AMERICAN THEATRE WING Award for Continued Excellence and is a six-time winner of the Off-Off Broadway Review’s Award for Excellence. Vital was also named 2002 Theatre Company of the Year by NYTheatre.com. This will be the third co-production between the ladies of HoNkBarK! and Vital Theatre Company, previous collaborations being Laura’s Bush (2004) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2006). The production also stars Kristin Price as Margery Pinchwife, the titular Country Wife, along with Ray Rodriguez (Mr. Pinchwife) and Richard Haratine (Horner). The cast is rounded out by Linda Jones (Alithea), Steve Kuhel (Harcourt), Janna Kefalas (Mrs. Squeamish), Bridgette Shaw (Dainty Fidget), Mike Yahn (Dorilant), Dolores Kenan (Old Lady Squeamish) and Joan Slavin (Lucy). Original music for harp, piano, flute and euphonium will be composed by Dana Haynes and conducted by Sam Swartz. The design team includes Karl Ruckdeschel (Costumes), Brian Garber (Set) and Nathan Elsner (Lighting). Production team includes Susan Manikas (Production Stage Manager) and Elena Kopaleichvili (Stage Manager). PERFORMANCE INFO: McGINN CAZALE THEATRE: 2162 Broadway at 76th Street, NYC Limited Engagement: January 5 – January 27, 2007 (Previews begin Jan. 5 for a Jan. 8 opening) Show runs Thursday-Saturday at 8pm & Sunday at 6pm with two added shows on Mon 1/8 @8pm & Wed 1/24 @8pm Tickets: $17 General, $15 Students Call 212-352-3101 or visit http://www.theatermania.com. Direct ticket link is http://www.theatermania.com/content/show.cfm/show/128606 Trains: 1,2,3,B or C to 72 St.
PRESS INVITATION: Fri 1/5 @8pm, Sat 1/6 @8pm, Sun 1/7 @6pm & Mon 1/8 @8pm
Darr Publicity--Press contact: David Gibbs 718-721-7907 or DARRPublicity@hotmail.com
