The Way to Keep Him

by Arthur Murphy

directed by Kate Napier

Georgian Comedy of Manners for 7 voices, just for the fun of it.

recently appeared at The Electric Theatre, 1 March 2010

And will be appearing at the Edinburgh Fringe as a full production in August.

Take two beautiful accomplished young ladies, one married, one widowed, and add two handsome young men, one married, one not. Stir in two maids and a footman (married to one of them). Leave to marinade for a month or so in a mixture of love, jealousy, passion, humour, betrayal and pretence, then dish to an audience and allow the revelation to develop. Murray developed this recipe for a perfect potted plot to serve as the dessert course to an evening’s entertainment at Garrick’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane in 1760. Garrick himself led the cast, and the piece was so successful that it was not long before Murray whipped it up into a full-length play. Here we offer the original: tart and brisk, simple and clear.

This is another ScripTease event from LynchPin Productions Theatre Company where we expose little-performed and/or new playscripts through rehearsed, performed readings.  It is our hope to expand the concept of Readers Theatre, ‘teasing’ out scripts and exposing audiences to plays they might not otherwise have the chance to experience.  With this we also create a public forum for playwrights to have the opportunity to test new work with actors in front of a live audience.

If you are interested in hosting a ScripTease event, have a suitable venue, would like  a Readers Theatre Workshop, or have a script you’d like to suggest, please contact us.

The Way to Keep Him appeared at

The Electric Theatre Cafe Bar, Guildford

1 March 2010

with

Ben Curtis as William
Lynne-Marie Haslam as Muslin
Katie Crooks as Mrs Lovemore
Paul Bryant as Sir Brilliant Fashion
Eli Murton as Mrs Bellmour
Polly Hughes as Mignionet
Steve Andrews as Mr Lovemore

photos credit: Jack Lynch