Rockhurst Sentinel

What do you get when you add lace, frills, and a person who just can’t seem to stay out or everybody’s business? You get “The Busy Body”, which has opened in Mabee Theatre.

“The Busy Body”, written by Susanna Centlivre, is a restoration comedy focusing on several characters.

Isabinda and Miranda are two young women of marriageable age. Both women are in love with two different characters- Isabinda is in love with Charles and Miranda with Sir George Airy. Isabinda’s mother, Lady Jealous Traffick, wants her daughter to marry a Spanish nobleman, and Miranda, although she is in love with Sir George Airy, pretends to be in love with her guardian, Sir Francis Gripe.

Both Sir George and Charles try to plan several rendezvous with their respective loves, but Sir Francis’ other ward, young Marplot, thwarts them several times, leading to comical errors and the young men almost being discovered. Throw into the mix several off-kilter servants, and you have a comedy that is guaranteed to leave you smiling.

I saw the play on opening night and was thoroughly pleased. The cast did an amazing job with their performances and the crew did wonderful work with lighting, set, and costumes. Also, the director, Susan Proctor, did a fantastic job.

Overall, I would give this play 4.8 out of 5 stars.

“The Busy Body” opened on Feb. 26 at 8:00 and shows were on Feb. 27 at 8:00, Feb. 28 at 2:00 and Mar. 1 at 2:00. The next production will be the student-run Theatreworks in April.

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