The Beaux’ Stratagem

Adapted by Thornton Wilder and Ken Ludwig, George Farquhar’s The Beaux’ Stratagem makes a bold critique of class, marriage, and English society. After squandering their fortunes on drink and gambling, Tom Aimwell and Jack Archer seek refuge in the countryside. They hope to seduce two ladies of status and fortune, but true love and a band of thieves soon complicate their scheming. For more than a century, the play was one of the most frequently performed English comedies, enjoying constant revivals. The Shakespeare Theatre Company rediscovers this classic with a world premiere adaptation, begun by Thornton Wilder in 1939 and finished 65 years later by Tony Award- nominated playwright Ken Ludwig. Together, Wilder and Ludwig’s work sheds new light on Farquhar’s spirited dialogue and hilarious characters. Michael Kahn directs.

Exceptions to Schedule: No matinee on Sunday, November 12; matinee at noon on Wednesday,
December 20; matinee at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, December 27; no
performances on Sunday, December 24