‘The Cottage’ at Cabrillo Playhouse

OC Theatre Guild
21 hours ago
4 min read

Sandy Rustin’s 2023 Broadway farce arrives on a newly renovated stage.

From left, Zoe Nauman, Garrett Claud, Jack Cooper, Shelby Perlis, Ashley Montgomery and Martin Balcaitis. Photo courtesy of Cabrillo Playhouse

By MaryAnn DiPietro

The art of farce depends on confidence and precision: confidence that a door will open at exactly the wrong moment, that a secret will be overheard by precisely the wrong person, and that the audience, delighted co-conspirators on the journey, will keep pace with the mayhem. In “The Cottage” by Sandy Rustin at Cabrillo Playhouse that confidence and precision are not just a matter of comic timing. It is architectural, artistic and celebratory.

Set in 1923 England, the play centers on a married couple who each use their country cottage for their own individual discreet romantic trysts, only to arrive there simultaneously, each with a lover. “That’s where the comedy comes in,” says Cabrillo Playhouse Artistic Director Michael Lopez. It unfolds through misdirection, misunderstanding and impeccable timing.

Lopez, a graduate of Cal State Fullerton, began his career as a dancer, spent 25 years performing professionally, then transitioned into choreography and directing. He was hired in 2014 as Cabrillo’s first paid artistic director; this season marks his 12th year with the theater, and his imprint is evident in the theater’s steady growth. “The Cottage” arrives at a moment when that growth is newly visible.

Garrett Claud and Ashly Montgomery. Photo courtesy of Cabrillo Playhouse

“I read the script over a year ago,” Lopez says. “I’m a fan of the Noël Coward sex comedies, the doors closing and opening.” What sealed the choice was timing. After two years of fundraising and six months of design, the playhouse now boasts a raised roof, a larger stage and approximately $35,000 in new lighting. “I knew we’d have a bigger stage, and I knew what our set could be,” Lopez says. “A small cast with more space to move would allow the theater to show audiences bigger and better.”

Lopez hired director Ben Green, an artist whose relationship with Cabrillo stretches back some 15 years, to lead this production. Green, also a Cal State Fullerton graduate, first appeared at the theater in “Bell, Book and Candle,” later returning for an outdoor production of "Much Ado About Nothing,” and productions of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Puffs.” He has long been eager to direct there, waiting for the right opportunity to arise.

When Lopez circulated an email inviting directors to list projects they were interested in, Green’s response was immediate. “‘The Cottage’ was my first choice,” he says. “British farce comedy is my favorite. I definitely gravitate to comedies. That quick response, the instant feedback of comedy, is what draws me.”

Green’s recent work includes directing “Our Town” at Newport Theatre Arts Center, but comedy, he says, feels instinctive. He builds his rehearsal room on instinct and collaboration. “I encourage my actors to bring as many ideas as possible,” he explains, “and then filter the good from the not so good in order to tell the story. In farce, clarity is everything. What bits and jokes land (that’s my job) making sure the story gets told through those jokes.”

Zoe Nauman and Martin Balcaitis. Photo courtesy of Cabrillo Playhouse

Green is already energized by the ensemble. “We had an incredible turnout for auditions,” he says. “I could have had multiple casts. I feel lucky that everybody said yes.” The six actors must be agile both physically and emotionally, capable of switching from comedic clown to an actual human being in a heartbeat. “And I’m already seeing it,” Green says. “I leave every rehearsal with my face hurting because I’m laughing so much.”

The set is a two-story English cottage, complete with stairs, which is an option only newly possible in the renovated space. “The ability to have a set of stairs is really something I’m excited about,” Green says. The costumes evoke the 1920s with flapper silhouettes and proper British tailoring, heightening what he calls the “really interesting dichotomy between the proper accents and dress mixed with the absurdity of what they’re doing.”

“I like the idea that it’s set in the ’20s,” Lopez says. “The visuals are fun. It’s a different era from our current show, “Company.” But what he expects audiences to enjoy most is the pacing. “It’s a fast-paced comedy. I look forward to the big laughs that shows like this get.”

Green hopes the production will “lift people’s spirits, even for two hours,” offering laughter as a form of escape. In that sense, “The Cottage” is not just a farce about romantic entanglements; it also feels like a statement of intent for Cabrillo Playhouse itself, confident in its expanded home, eager to entertain and ready to fling open the doors.