RSC to perform Mary Pix “undiscovered gem”

Published: 17 March 2018
Reporter: Steve Orme

Sandy Foster, Sophie Stanton and Susan Salmon in rehearsal for The Fantastic Follies of Mrs Rich Credit: Helen Maybanks

Mary Pix's comedy of manners The Fantastic Follies of Mrs Rich (Or the Beau Defeated), “an undiscovered gem, combining mischief-making and mind-bending plot twists”, is to be presented by the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford.

Mrs Rich, a wealthy widow, aspires to rub shoulders with the great and good and perhaps even gain a title. Unfortunately, she is not the only one with designs on Sir John Roverhead.

Unlike Aphra Behn, a fellow female playwright from the late 1600s, Mary Pix has been almost lost to history. The “colourful cast of characters” of The Fantastic Follies of Mrs Rich dupe and dissemble as the intrigue builds.

Sophie Stanton plays Mrs Rich. She was Marina in David Eldridge’s The Knot of the Heart in 2011 and appeared in Caryl Churchill’s Cloud Nine in 2007, both at the Almeida Theatre.

The rest of the cast comprises Jeff Alexander (coachman), Aretha Ayeh (Lucinda), Daisy Badger (Lady Landsworth), Greg Barnett (Belvoir), Graeme Brookes (footman), Will Brown (Jack), Hayley Considine (governess), Laura Elsworthy (Betty), Sandy Foster (Mrs Trickwell), Ashley Gayle (footman), Amanda Hadingue (Toni), Richard Hurst (footman), Solomon Israel (younger Clerimont), Emily Johnstone (maid), Tarek Merchant (Chris), Susan Salmon (Lady la Basset), Sadie Shimmin (Mrs Fidget), Michael Simkins (Mr Rich), Jessica Turner (Mrs Clerimont), Tam Williams (Sir John Roverhead) and Leo Ringer (elder Clerimont).

The Fantastic Follies of Mrs Rich is directed by Jo Davies and designed by Colin Richmond, with lighting by Anna Watson. Music is by Grant Olding, with sound by Carolyn Downing and movement by Coral Messam.

It plays in repertoire with John Webster’s The Duchess of Malfi in the Swan Theatre from Friday 23 March until Thursday 14 June (press night Tuesday 3 April).

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