Caltech Playreaders 67th Season: "The Rivals" by Richard Brinsley Sheridan

Directed by Mark Kozlowski

The first of Sheridan's plays, The Rivals, presented in 1775, is a robust comedy of manners. In
the Gilded Era in the town of Bath, two pairs of well-born young lovers swan about with
thoroughly modern levels of privilege, ennui, and general self-absorption. They are assisted in
their intrigues by Sheridan's finest creation, Mrs. Malaprop, whose memorable mangling of the
English tongue is driven by a universal foible: she's trying to appear smarter than she is. The
fireworks of Sheridan's verbal wit illuminate his characters' affectation, artifice, and pretense.

Admission is $3.00 for members of the Caltech Women's Club; $4.00 for all others. Light refreshments will be served after the reading.

To dine at the Athenaeum beforehand, call (626) 395-8204 for reservations. Plan to be seated by 5:30. You are welcome to join the Playreaders table.