The Gentleman Dancing-Master

Contributed by Rachel

I wanted to let people know about a project I've been working on recently. I was invited to collaborate on The Gentleman Dancing-Master , a 1672 English Restoration comedy by William Wycherly, to be performed at the Pearl Theatre from Nov. 20 through Dec. 18. The story concerns Hippolita, a fourteen year old English girl who has been cloistered in her home for the past year by her father who has adopted the strict and severe moral codes of Spain. The father plans to marry Hippolita to her cousin who has, unfortunately, adopted the foppish and affected ways of the French. Spain and France do battle in Hippolita's English boudoir as she makes plans of her own to marry an appealing Englishman who must pretend to be a Dancing Master to save his own skin and Hippolita's honor. It all works out in the end and is very funny along the way, with singing, dancing, swordplay, and ribaldry all mixed in. Go to www.pearltheatre.org for a complete schedule of performances including previews starting 11/10.