Romantic havoc ensues in the town of Bath when Sir Anthony arrives to arrange the marriage of his son Jack to the wealthy Lydia Languish. Jack and Lydia are already in love, but because of Lydia’s obsession with romantic novels, Jack has disguised himself as a poor officer named Ensign Beverly—and he is only one of Lydia’s many suitors. The Rivals was Sheridan’s first play, and this charming comedy of manners continues to be widely performed today.

An L.A. Theatre Works full cast performance featuring:

Lloyd Owen as Captain Jack Absolute
Lucy Davis as Lydia Languish
Rosalind Ayres as Mrs. Malaprop
Kenneth Danziger as Thomas
Neil Dickson as David
Sarah Drew as Julia
Julian Holloway as Sir Lucius O’Trigger
Christopher Neame as Sir Anthony Absolute
Moira Quirk as Lucy
Alan Shearman as Fag
Simon Templeman as Bob Acres
Matthew Wolf as Faulkland

Includes an interview with Linda Kelly, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and the author of Richard Brinsley Sheridan: A Life.

Directed by Martin Jarvis. Recorded before a live audience at The Invisible Studios, West Hollywood in May of 2011.

Lead funding for The Rivals was made possible with support from the Sidney E. Frank Foundation.