A fresh adaptation of a Restoration-era comedy will bring sharp satire, tangled relationships and plenty of laughs when the Festival Playhouse at Kalamazoo College, 129 Thompson St., presents William Wycherly’s The Country Wife.
Directed by Professor of Theatre Arts Ren Pruis, the production will be staged at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 14–Saturday, May 16, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 17. The Thursday performance will include a post-show talkback with cast members and a reception. Tickets are available online at the playhouse’s box office.
Adapted by Rachel Atkins from the classic comedy, The Country Wife follows three interconnected stories that blend comedy, deception and social commentary while exploring themes of gender expectations, desire and independence.
Assistant Director Hannah Ulanoski ’26 said K audiences will enjoy the new spin on an old play as it follows Margery Pinchwife, who is trying to escape her overly controlling and jealous husband before he relocates them to the isolated countryside.
“Our production is based around the idea that the audience is sitting in on a rehearsal, so I think they’ll get a kick out of the mishmash of modern and Restoration-esque costuming and props on stage,” she said. “Compared to the original text, this version is centered more around the women of the town, and in the case of the virtuous ladies, they are shown to have a ton of autonomy.”
Actor Ben Perry ’28, who portrays Jack Pinchwife, the show offers far more than a traditional comedy.
“This play is super funny with ridiculous events occurring left and right,” Perry said. “I guarantee you will laugh out loud during multiple moments. This feels like a long episode of a sitcom, where you don’t know what’s going to happen in the next scene, but it’s going to be better than you can imagine.”
Perry describes his character as an emotionally complicated man whose fear of losing his wife fuels much of the play’s tension.
“He truly loves his wife but believes there is no other choice but to manipulate those around him,” Perry said. “It’s fun playing the antagonist in a show that has an ensemble of troubled people because I have to stand out in a way that the others can’t.”
To capture the humor, Perry said he leans into an exaggerated, almost cartoonish style of anger inspired by classic animated characters such as Daffy Duck and Donald Duck. Although this marks Perry’s first appearance in a K production, he brings extensive experience to the role, having performed in approximately 50 shows. He said he appreciates how Festival Playhouse productions balance entertainment and meaningful storytelling.
“Through this comedy, they are telling another story of empowering women’s voices and choices through laughter and satire,” Perry said. “This is the right amount of silly that keeps audiences entertained scene to scene while also keeping them engaged with the overall story.”
Both Perry and Ulanoski praised Pruis’ collaborative directing style.
“She’s very serious about the work she does and brings a sense of professionalism to each rehearsal,” Ulanoski said. “I admire that about her. As a theatre major, there’s a lot to take away from this experience, even if I don’t pursue directing in the future.”
Perry added that he appreciates how Pruis allows actors to build on the foundation they’re given, which he said is a rare quality in directors. He also loves the welcoming atmosphere created by the cast and crew at the Festival Playhouse.
“I’m a transfer student from Michigan State and didn’t know many of the people that I was auditioning with,” Perry said. “I could’ve been met with neglect and felt like I was an outsider during this process, but I was quickly welcomed in. If you have been in theatre before, you know that auditions can often feel like a competition against your other castmates. However, this was probably the most pleasant audition process I ever went through, mostly because of the encouragement and conversations I shared with my peers. I am lucky to have this opportunity to perform with these intelligent and fine actors that I share the stage with.”
Perry and Ulanoski believe audiences will connect with the play’s emotional depth and unpredictability.
“This feels like a show for anyone to enjoy,” Perry said. “There are common lewd jokes, relationship dramas, and if you stick around long enough, maybe a sword will be used.”
“The Country Wife is a good play for the Festival Playhouse because it’s honestly really funny, and it feels good to laugh sometimes,” Ulanoski added. “The name of this year’s season is ‘For Your Entertainment’ and this show fits in perfectly.”