“Without music, life would be a blank to me.”
– Jane Austen, Emma
Come join the music and the dancing as Lady Bumbleton hosts one of two annual balls, the highlights of the English countryside social season.
For several months now, I have been working as co-producer of and as an actor in The Nieces of Lady Bumbleton an English country ball to be held at Chamberlayne Actor’s Theatre (CAT) on June 12 and 13.
We’ve described it this way:
The Nieces of Lady Bumbleton is a unique blend of theatre, historical recreation ball and social evening. Guests are invited to attend a ball at the home of Lady Bumbleton, in the English countryside, and will be attending as participants in the evening. While there, they will witness scenes which depict preparations for the very evening which they are attending, and have the chance to interact with many wonderful characters. The balance of the evening will consist of a full program of period dancing, savory fare, and delightful entertainments. The event will hold interest for anyone involved with theatre, music, history, literature, costuming, dance, or the like.
Detailed information, including information about two workshops to learn the dance, is available on the CAT Theatre website.
In this production, I’ve worked with my good friend, the actor who played Sherlock Holmes in last year’s production of Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure. His is the inspiration and the design behind this event. I have learned far more about the Regency era and about English country dance than I ever might have thought possible.
Although, truth be told, for the brief period of time in college that I was an English major, I study British literature and read Emma for the class. Okay, so maybe I really read the cliff notes.
But I’ve been reading Pride and Prejudice, and I’ve watched several film adaptions of Jane Austen’s work.
Come join us and be immersed in this wonderful time in history. A time when things were simple, yet elegant. Join in the dancing and the merriment.
If I am to be honest, I would much rather act than produce. But I am also being honest when I say that I have loved this process and the idea of creating something new and exciting.
It has not been without challenges. The most pressing challenge, of course, is the sale of tickets.
I can wait whilst you go get yours.
I do hope if you’re in the general area that you’ll join us on one or both nights.
Yes, I know Moliere wasn’t British and that he lived about a hundred years before the Regency era, but he has a point.
All the ills of mankind, all the tragic misfortunes that fill the history books, all the political blunders, all the failures of the great leaders have arisen merely from a lack of skill at dancing.
– Moliere
Help make the world a better place. Come dance with us.
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