Or,
by Liz Duffy Adams
L to R: Rebecca Tucker as Aphra Behn and Haley Jones as Nell Gwynne
About Or,
Staged during the COVID-19 pandemic, this sex farce about 17th-century playwright Aphra Behn explores the choice to make love, make art, and make hope in a world ravaged by plague, fire, war, prejudice, and scarcity.
Read my blog post about Or, here.
CAST
Nick Cochran as the Jailer and Wardrobe
Haley Jones as Nell Gwynne, Lady Davenant, and Maria
Rebecca Tucker as Aphra Behn
Nicholas Wilder as King Charles II and William Scot
PRODUCTION
Written by Liz Duffy Adams
Directed by Aileen Wen McGroddy
Stage Managed by Kim D’Agnese
Costumes by DW with Assoc. Jennifer Paar
Props by Jacob Foster
Scenic Painting by Gwen Elise Higgins
Photos by Leslie Pankhurst
The Winnipesaukee Playhouse, 2020
Portland Stage, 2021
L to R: Nick Cochran, Nicholas Wilder, Rebecca Tucker, Haley Jones, and Kim D’Agnese
“It may have seemed inconsequential, but when a woman wearing 17th Century attire stepped onto sun-dabbled boards on Tuesday afternoon, what the handful of people in attendance saw was the return of live theater to the Lakes Region.”
L to R: Nicholas Wilder as William Scot and Rebecca Tucker as Aphra Behn
L to R: Haley Jones as Lady Davenant and Rebecca Tucker as Aphra Behn
Nicholas Wilder as King Charles II
L to R: Haley Jones as Lady Davenant and Rebecca Tucker as Aphra Behn
L to R: Rebecca Tucker as Aphra Behn and Nicholas Wilder as King Charles II
“Rebecca Tucker is Aphra in a tour de force performance, rushing to get her play done in a day while balancing her gay relationship with Nell Gwynne (Haley Jones), heterosexual affair with King Charles (Nicholas Wilder) and a surprise appearance by former lover William Scott (also played by Wilder), who may or may not be involved in a plot to murder the king. Besides her role as Nell, Jones also played the maid, as well as Lady Davenant whose scenery-eating turn caused the audience to break into spontaneous applause.”
L to R: Nicholas Wilder as King Charles II and Rebecca Tucker as Aphra Behn
Rebecca Tucker as Aphra Behn
L to R: Haley Jones as Maria and Rebecca Tucker as Aphra Behn
L to R: Haley Jones as Nell Gwynne and Rebecca Tucker as Aphra Behn
L to R: Nicholas Wilder as King Charles II, Rebecca Tucker as Aphra Behn, and Haley Jones as Nell Gwynne
“There was no relaxing of the Winni’s production values and professionalism. This play ranks up there with the best they’ve ever produced. ”
L to R: Rebecca Tucker as Aphra Behn and Haley Jones as Nell Gwynne
L to R: Nicholas Wilder as William Scot and Rebecca Tucker as Aphra Behn
L to R: Rebecca Tucker as Aphra Behn and Nicholas Wilder as King Charles II
L to R: Rebecca Tucker as Aphra Behn, Haley Jones as Nell Gwynne, and Nicholas Wilder as King Charles II
Clockwise, from top: Rebecca Tucker as Aphra Behn, Haley Jones as Nell Gwynne, and Nicholas Wilder as King Charles II