The Garfield Center for the Arts’ spring production, Enchanted April, opens Friday April 17 at 8 pm. Based on a 1922 novel by Elizabeth von Arnim, the romantic comedy has been adapted to film and to the stage, most recently on Broadway in 2003 as a Golden Globe award winner by Matthew Barber.
For those not familiar with the plot: Four quite dissimilar and disenchanted women escape their dreary 1920s lives in England for a month’s holiday in sunny Italy. Mrs. Arnott and Mrs. Wilton become acquainted after reading a newspaper advertisement for a small medieval Italian castle on the shores of the Mediterranean to be let furnished for the month of April. To help share expenses, they reluctantly take on the prickly, elderly Mrs. Graves and the stunning socialite, Lady Caroline Bramble. Once under the civilized influence of Italy, the four women reassess their lives with some surprising results.
The show, directed by Diane Landskroener, features four actors new to Chestertown audiences. Darice Clewell, who plays Lotty Wilton, has a degree in Theatre Arts & Drama, and has been active in Maryland theater for over thirty years. She currently serves as President of The Colonial Players in Annapolis. Mary Watko (Mrs. Graves) has had a lifelong passion for live theatre since age 11. She performed and directed many plays for ‘Dignity Players’ in Annapolis, is also a member of The Colonial Players, and has received numerous awards for acting and directing. The Garfield Center is also pleased to welcome two members of the Diggs family: Jakob Diggs (Anthony Wilding), in his fist role since high school, and his father James Diggs (Frederick Arnott), who was inspired by his children to return to the stage. The Diggs family moved to the area last July when James accepted the position of pastor at the Chestertown Church of the Nazarene.
Other cast members are Melissa McGlynn (Rose Arnott), Jim Landskroener (Melliersh Wilton), Rachel Dilliplane (Lady Caroline Bramble), and Kate Bennett (Costanza).
First-time set designer Zane Carter has had a number of challenges, with nine scene changes in the first act alone. Drawing on his experience as a commercial artist, exhibition designer, video producer and inventor, Carter has developed a number of ingenious, multi-purpose set pieces and a split-screen projection concept to accommodate the many transitions.
The show will run three consecutive weekends, April 17 – 19, 24 -26, and May 1- 3. Performance times are 8 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, with a matinee at 3 pm on Sundays.
Tickets are available on line at www.GarfieldCenter.org or by calling the box office at 410 810 2060. The Garfield Center for the Arts at the Prince Theatre is located at 210 High Street, Chestertown, MD 21620.
Enchanted April sponsors include ELB, Incorporated and Twigs and Teacups.
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