Wright State Theatre presents Tom Stoppard’s romantic masterpiece ‘Arcadia’ in the Playhouse Theatre

Wright State Theatre’s production of Tom Stoppard’s romantic masterpiece “Arcadia” runs from Feb. 3 to 12 in the Festival Playhouse in the Creative Arts Center. (Photos by Erin Pence)

Wright State University Theatre will present Tom Stoppard’s romantic play of ideas “Arcadia” in the Festival Playhouse in the Creative Arts Center from Feb. 3 to 12.

Performances take place Feb. 3, 4, 10 and 11 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 5, 11 and 12 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $25 for adults, $23 for senior citizens and $15 for students. Tickets can be purchased online or at the Creative Arts Center box office between noon and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Stoppard is widely considered one of the greatest playwrights of the English language and “Arcadia” is one of his most impressive works.

Set in a British manor home called Sidley Park, “Arcadia” alternates between the present day and 1809, with the timeline eventually overlapping. The play explores the nature of evidence and truth in the context of modern ideas about history, mathematics and physics. Stoppard is able to make complex ideas of physics, philosophy, higher math and chaos theory accessible and powerfully dramatic.

“Arcadia” is directed by Marya Spring Cordes, professor in acting and musical theatre and associate chair of the School of Fine and Performing Arts, whose recent works at Wright State include “Sweet Charity,” “The Wolves” and “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.”

Cordes describes “Arcadia” as a “witty and thoughtful comedy that strikes you immediately with the beauty of the language and complexity of the relationships. The audience moves between real-time (of 1809) and a future reality decidedly set on exhuming the mysteries of the past. The play is emotionally riveting, Stoppard’s mystery keeps you on the edge of your seat, and the payoff is stunning.”

“Arcadia” has scenic design by Michael Brewer, costume design by senior design/technology major Sean Hannah, lighting design by Matthew Benjamin, properties design by John Lavarnway, sound design by James Dunlap, technical direction by Kevin Nedberg and stage management by Isabella Myers.

On the stage, “Arcadia” features Julie Murphy as Thomasina Coverly, Kyle Channell as Septimus Hodge, Ciara McCarthy as Jellaby, Branden Thomas Fisher as Ezra Chater, Dylan Reed Roll as Richard Noakes, Alex Muhlenkamp as Lady Croom, Julian Goldenstein as Captain Brice, Dani Grace Nissen as Hannah Jarvis, Lily Rowan as Chloe Coverly, Richard Yannotti as Bernard Nightingale, Desmond Kingston as Valentine Coverly, and Dominic Cullen as Gus Coverly/Augustus Coverly.

2022–23 theatre season continues

Wright State Theatre’s season continues with “The Laramie Project” in the Herbst Theatre from Feb. 17–26 and “On The Town” in the Festival Playhouse from March 17–April 8.