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NELL GWYNN at FOLGER THEATRE

Nell Gwynn, Jessica Swale’s bright comedy about the Restoration stage,  may not be exact to every historical fact (which is based on questionable records anyway)—- but it is most true about the comic spirit of theater that survives. Nell kept her audiences laughing then and this show that resurrects her for an evening kept this audience quite happy.
A lusty king and his lovely mistress take the stage at Folger in celebration of the spirit of live theater. 
Alison Luff is the delightful Nell Gywnn to R. J. Foster’s charming royal Charles II of England.  
He would have dozens of mistresses. Regina Aqino plays two: Lady Castelmaine and Louise de Keroualle.
She would say he was the third Charles in her life.  Quinn Franzen plays the other significant Charles—Charles Hart  who would bring Nell to the stage that Charles II had opened up for professional actresses in the Restoration.  
Alas, for Edward Kynaston, played by Christopher Dinolfo, this would be the end when a royal warrant was issued for female roles to be played by actresses.
The play deftly darts from the stage to behind the scenes where John Dryden (Michael Glenn) as he  trys to write plays, Thomas Kiligrew (Nigel Gore) as the theater manager who  strives to keep the company going and Nancy as Nell’s personal dresser  (Catherine Flye).
Then  quickly it switches to the royal palace, for more drama among the other royal mistresses and the courtier.
Alex Michell as Ned Spigget,  Caitlin Cisco as Rose Gwynn, Kevin Collins as musician, and Jeff Keogh as Lord Arlington, and Zoe Speas as Queen Catherine round out the terrific cast. 
There is a movie in the works but for now what the Folger presents in real life  is about a  moment in theater history, (not just about the Restoration theater which has had its day),  and  shows what fun it still is in experiencing a show live.
NELL GWYNN at FOLGER THEATRE until March 10, 2019.

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