(From left) Jason Ver Hage, of Midland Park, as Sir Anthony Absolute; John Kroner, of Hillsdale, as Captain Jack Absolute; Nicole Gallin, of Glen Rock, as Lydia Languish; and Jessie Jones, of Fort Lee, as Mrs. Malaprop.
PARAMUS, N.J. – “The Rivals,” Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s play that mastered the humor of the misspoken word – malapropism – will take center-stage at Bergen Community College next month.
The story revolves around two rich young lovers, Lydia Languish and Captain Jack Absolute, and their respective guardians, Sir Anthony Absolute and the chronically misspeaking Mrs. Malaprop – one of the most popular caricatures in English drama. Themed in romantic entanglements, the plot follows Lydia, determined to marry for love and into poverty, and the aristocratic Jack who woos her while claiming to be the poor Ensign Beverley for sake of the affair. Playwright Sheridan gives the ensemble rich wit and remarkable theatrical effect.
The show, produced by Bergenstages, will begin Friday, Dec. 4 and continue through Saturday, Dec. 12. Evening performances take place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday; Dec. 5 and 12 will feature matinee performances at 2 p.m. as well. All performances will be held in Anna Maria Ciccone Theatre at the College’s main campus, 400 Paramus Road.
Ticket prices for the general public are $15, with discounts offered to senior citizens, Bergen faculty and students. Guests can purchase tickets by calling (201) 447-7428 or online at tickets.bergen.edu.
Based in Paramus, Bergen Community College (www.bergen.edu), a public two-year coeducational college, enrolls 16,000 students at locations in Paramus, the Philip Ciarco Jr. Learning Center in Hackensack and Bergen Community College at the Meadowlands in Lyndhurst. The College offers associate degree, certificate and continuing education programs in a variety of fields. More students graduate from Bergen than any other community college in the state.