In 1690s England, Colley Cibber pursues his dream of being an actor at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane. He is ambitious and enthusiastic but devoid of natural talent. He falls in love with celebrity actress Anne Bracegirdle, but she is immersed in a tempestuous relationship with playwright William Congreve. Bracegirdle inspires and vociferously critiques Congreve’s writing, culminating in her collaboration on his masterpiece, The Way of the World.
When Congreve and Bracegirdle and the other leading actors leave Drury Lane to form their own company, Cibber is left behind. He is devastated at first but soon takes energetic leadership of the remnants of the company, choosing plays and parts as he sees fit. The results are disastrous. However, with Bracegirdle’s surreptitious help, Cibber eventually finds his niche as an actor and a playwright. The competition between the two companies intensifies, with public taste moving away from Congreve’s sophisticated worldly elegance to Cibber’s sentimental simplicity.
Keywords: Comedy, Restoration, Period, Historical, Class, Gender, Love Triangle, Actors, Playwrights, Theatre History, Unrequited Love, Seduction, Friendship
Genre: Comedy, Historical
Acts: 1
Run time: 90 minutes
Suitable for students 16+
Cast size: 3 actors
Male roles: 2
Female roles: 1
Casting notes: This is a period play which supports diverse ethnic casting. Characters age from mid-20s to late-30s over the course of the play.