If you’re looking for something to do for Valentine’s Day or are in need of a laugh, you might consider attending A Conspiracy Against Love.
The play, which is being performed at the Sault Theatre Workshop, was written by Charlotte Von Stein and translated by David Clauson.
Director Fallon Smyl said this is the world premiere of this production in English.
“It’s from 1798 or 1799, but David Clauson’s translation has never been done before in the English production,” said Smyl, calling it a romantic comedy that features “some very silly good times.”
The play is being performed through the Expand the Canon project, which is offered through Hedgepig Ensemble Theatre in New York.
“They have 52 plays now that they have in that project, which are largely by female and non-binary playwrights,” Smyl said.
Performed by an ensemble of actors playing various roles, the story is all about hijinks and mistaken identity when two female cousins end up being kidnapped due to mistaken identity.
“There's no true main character,” Smyl said, adding that in in the end, most of the characters do find love.
The cast includes William Ambeault playing Avelos and Major; Ada Crowder as Luitarde and Peter; Luci Siklosi playing Theodora; Wendylnn Corrigan as Menonda.
Also in the cast is CJ Morton playing Daval, Friedrich and Doctor; Thomas Groulx as Monrose; Ash Aikens-McIntosh playing Florine and Conrad; and Abigail Carr as Susette and the old woman.
Actors had about six weeks to learn their lines and get all of the blocking and stage directions down to a fine art.
This is the first play that Aikens-McIntosh has acted in since high school.
“I am a drag performer. I've been performing in drag since 2018, so I've been on stage a lot,” Aikens-McIntosh said.
“But this is very different. Drag is all improv, so having lines to memorize and a character that I get to bring to life that I didn't invent on my own is very unique and challenging.
“It's interesting and I'm enjoying it. It gives some more freedom but also some more constriction than I'm used to.”
The play opened last night and will run tonight and tomorrow at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are available here.