THE GAME OF LOVE AND CHANCE
By Pierre de Marivaux

Cast

Silvia….Allegra Dubus-Brandolini
Dorante….Max Tullgren
Monsieur Orgon….Paul Wann
Mario….Edward F. Speck
Harlequin….Morgan Fanning
Lisette….Mary Godfrey
A Valet….Charlie Grossman

Creative team

Director …. Bonniejean Wilbur
Stage Manager …. Amanda Martindale
Company Manager …. Dylan C. Wack
Movement Consultant …. Judith Chaffee
Dramaturg …. Will Mombello
Music Direction …. Morgan Fanning
Costume Crew …. Cailin McFarland
Zarifa M

 

A Note from the Dramaturg

Marivaux did not like the outdoors. He much preferred the comfort of a salon. When characters in his plays refer to the ‘natural world’ they are usually talking about the garden. To perform Marivaux out of doors, then, is already an adaptation of the play’s starting point. And in many ways, this is much like bringing a play from 1730 to our time. Let’s bring it outside and see what it looks like in the sun. 

Marivaux was a novelist and a playwright. In France his novels were well regarded and quite popular. The Game of Love and Chance was first performed in 1730, nearly 300 years ago. Much has changed since then, of course. One change in France was the revolution that began in 1789. This was so evental in Europe that the generally quiet years of the 1730s have been overshadowed for us Americans. One thing, however, that has not changed is the brilliant effect that love can have on a human. And in many ways, this was an interest for Marivaux. Like every playwright at the time, he tried his hand at writing a tragedy. The play was canceled after four showings. His disposition was more suited for comedy. He worked almost exclusively with the Italian actors who had a long traditional training in Commedia dell’arte. He said he liked the Italians best because their acting was exquisite and unlike the French actors, they would take notes from the writer. 

Marivaux’s plays were not seen as revolutionary, but reformist. He was interested in seeing what love did to people who were constrained by manners. And in the end he was interested in upholding good manners. In 2022 we have very different ideas of manners. Some of what was considered mannerly then, is absolutely unacceptable now. And some of our norms would make Marivaux fear for our salvation. However, the surprise of love still sends a shock to our manners and can, if we let it change our lives. Adapting Marivaux in 2022 invites us to see what there is to be said of love and our powerlessness to it across time. We are invited to bring what was once inside outside, under the sun, in the park. 

 Meet the Cast of THE GAME OF LOVE AND CHANCE

 

ALLEGra dubus-brandolini as silvia

ALLEGRA DUBUS-BRANDOLINI is thrilled to be joining the cast of The Game of Love and Chance. She has performed in countless shows, including Waiting for Godot (Firehouse Center for the Arts), Emotional Creature (Firehouse Center for the Arts), The Little Mermaid (Firehouse Center for the Arts), and School of Rock, the Musical (Ogunquit Playhouse). She has performed in productions at Sarah Lawrence College such as Head over Heels, the Musical and Twelfth Night. She trained at the British American Drama Academy in London and she recently graduated with a BA in Theatre and Creative Writing at Sarah Lawrence College.

Previous Theater in the Open credits include Antigone (2017), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2017), Medea (2018), Lost Songs (2018), Julius Caesar (2018), and A Snow White Panto (2017).


MAx Tullgren as dorante

MAX TULLGREN is thrilled to be returning to TITO after an 11 year hiatus! Past theatre credits include Newsies (Jack Kelly) and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Christopher): Marshwood High School, as well as The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Frederic) and Heathers (Ram): Seacoast Repertory Theatre. Music Videos: Tiger by Ponyhof, In the Air-Hockey Fire by The Low Anthem. Outside of theatre, Max enjoys traveling the outdoors in his van Daisy. He would like to thank Bonniejean for making this show happen and getting him back on stage.

Previous Theater in the Open credits include Grimm (2011).


PAUL WANN AS MONSIEUR ORGON

PAUL WANN is one of the founding actors of this company. He wrote and directed its first production in the park, Maudslay Is Haunted, about a theatre company employed by the Mosely family. For him, the park is vividly haunted now with all the productions he has played in over the decades. He last appeared as Prospero in The Tempest. He works at The Governor's Academy as a teacher, dorm parent and chair of the Arts Department. He is married to director/actor/teacher/costumer, Bonniejean Wilbur.

Previous Theater in the Open credits include The Tempest (2009, 2019), King Lear (2016) A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2017), Much Ado About Nothing (1997, 2018), and Twelfth Night (1999, 2015).


EDWARD F. SPECK as Mario

EDWARD F. SPECK (he/him) has a long history with Theater in the Open, having been a company member for 12 years before taking on the role of Artistic Director in 2009. His first show with Theater in the Open was 1997’s Much Ado About Nothing directed by Bonniejean Wilbur and he is trilled to be acting for Bonniejean again. Previous credits with Theater in the Open include Media (Jason), The Tempest (Caliban), Antigone (Creon) and lots and lots of clowns over a decade of Pantos. He has performed with the Firehouse Center for the Arts and Seven Stages Shakespeare in Portsmouth. An Amesbury native, Edward now lives in Newburyport as artist in residence at the Maudslay Gatekeeper’s House, which allows Teddy and his wife to raise their young daughters on the edge of these magical woods.

Previous Theater in the Open credits include Metamorphoses (2021), The Tempest (2019), Much Ado About Nothing (2018), Medea (2018), Antigone (2017), and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2017).


MOrgan Fanning as Harlequin

MORGAN FANNING is delighted to be making their TITO debut. Recent credits include Pericles (7 Stages Shakespeare Co.), The Tempest (Fenix Theatre Co.), and You Got Older (Mad Horse Theatre Co.). She holds a BA in Theatre and Music from Luther College. Morgan currently resides in Portland, ME.

Morgan makes their Theater in the Open debut with The Game of Love and Chance.


MARY GODFREY AS LISETTE

MARY GODFREY is delighted to be working with Theater in the Open again after taking a long hiatus. Aside from theater, some of her favorite things to do are running marathons in Europe, hanging with penguins in Antarctica, and learning Buddy Holly songs on her guitar.

Previous Theater in the Open credits include Much Ado About Nothing (1997), Mother Courage and Her Children (1997), As You Like It (1998), King Stag (1999), and Twelfth Night (2000).


Charlie Grossman as a Valet

CHARLIE GROSSMAN graduated Newburyport High School this year, he will be attending Middlebury College in the spring. He has been a player in TITO and NHS theater, and is also a musician. He enjoys literature, the summer months, and good music.

Previous Theater in the Open credits include A Peter Pan Panto! (2019), and A Nutcracker Panto! (2021).

 

Meet the Creative Team of THE GAME OF LOVE AND CHANCE

 

Bonniejean Wilbur, DIrector

BONNIEJEAN WILBUR is an actress, director and costume designer. Her directing debut was the 1997 production of Much Ado About Nothing with Theater in the Open. That same year she fell in love with a production of The Game of Love and Chance. This production fulfills a long held dream of directing this delightful play, and she’s delighted to be doing it with Theater in the Open.

Previous Theater in the Open credits as director include Much Ado About Nothing (1997, 2018).


AMANDA MARTINDALE, STAGE MANAGER

AMANDA MARTINDALE received her BFA from Oakland University and has dabbled in performance in many forms for 40 years. She is honored to again be working with Theater in the Open.

Previous Theater in the Open credits include Medea (2018).


JUDITH CHAFFEE, MOVEMENT CONSULTANT

JUDITH CHAFFEE, AEA, appeared as “Mother” in Good by C.P. Taylor at New Repertory Theatre, Boston Center for American Performance and again for the Potomac Theatre Project in NYC. Other credits include An American Dream (Colorado Arts Festival); Benjamin Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, House of Bernarda Alba, and Agnes of God (Boston University), and a recent film role in The Inhabitants. She danced and choreographed for Boston Dance Collective for 20 years and has choreographed theatre productions for Central Square Theatre, SpeakEasy, Huntington Theatre Company, New Repertory Theatre, among others in New England. She has two CDs on Period Styles through Insight Media, and co-edited, with Olly Crick, The Routledge Companion to Commedia dell’Arte. She is Emerita Professor at Boston University, where she was head of movement for theatre and opera before retiring in 2015. She joined the Board of TITO in 2019 and is currently adjunct professor in theatre at UMass/Boston.

Previous Theater in the Open credits include Julius Caesar (2019).


Will Mombello, Dramaturg

WILL MOMBELLO has acted with Theater in the Open for 10 years. He studied Philosophy, Greek and French in Santa Fe and is still repenting for getting a useless degree. Working as a dramaturge on a French play is the most his studies will ever be used. He is a dog lover and spends his free time waiting for people to ask him for his thoughts on any subject.

Previous Theater in the Open credits include Much Ado About Nothing (2018), As You Like It (2014), and Twelfth Night (2015).

 

Thank you to our Season Underwriters

Producer Level Sponsors

Director Level Sponsors

 

Circle of Friends Sponsors

Ganesh Imports

 
 

With the support of

Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation

ADDITIONAL THANKS TO
Jeremy and Arlene Barnard