Tammy Ostrander reads a lot of plays, but finding the right one isn’t always easy and sometimes it’s not nearby. “I picked up Nell Gwynn when we were in London one time,” says Ostrander. “It was commissioned by the Globe Theatre, so, you know, that give you some credibility right away." Nell Gwynn opens at the College of St. Scholastica on April 21st.
The play tells the story of real-life actor Nell Gwynn who performed on stage during the mid-1600s after King Charles II (who loved theater) allowed women to preform onstage. “Nell Gwynn was one of the first women,” says Ostrander who also states that the notoriety of the title character went beyond the stage. "Nell Gwynn becomes famous in part because she also becomes Charles’s mistress.”
Beyond the context of the story, the play (though not a musical) includes a few musical segments and, in Ostrander’s assessment, has a lot of diverse and great roles for actors. “It has strong roles for women, which you don't always find," says Ostrander. "It has a very even cast." The play has six roles for men and six for women. "There are funny moments, there are dramatic moments, there is political intrigue - it's not a one-trick pony."
The shows will be held at the St. Scholastica Theatre with evening performances at 7:30pm on April 21, 22, 27, 28, 29 and Sunday matinees at 2pm on April 23 and 30. Tickets can be purchased online through the CSS website.
