The Cottage

by Sandy Rustin

Sylvia and Beau find themselves in an English countryside cottage for their yearly rendezvous, and Sylvia knows this time it will be the beginning of their new life together. But when Beau demurs on a shared future, and their spouses arrive at the cottage, she realizes that this home-away-from-home is a refuge for determining a new path forward. With a tip of the hat to Noël Coward and sex comedies of the past, THE COTTAGE offers a perfect showcase for six actors with endless laughs, hilarious twists, daring physical comedy, and a happy ending for lovers everywhere.

Genres: Plays

105 pages

Published December 14, 2023

About the author

Sandy Rustin appears regularly at The Upright Citizen's Brigade in "Gravid Water" (named "Best Improv Show" by Time Out NY). Favorite NY credits include Modern Orthodox; I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change; Jolson & Company; Sarah, Plain and Tall; and Neil Simon's Hotel Suite. TV credits include "The Scariest Show on TV" (Comedy Central), "Law and Order: SVU," "As the World Turns," "All My Children," and "Guiding Light." She is a Northwestern University graduate.


(source: Dreamscape)

Reviews

[Doug · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5, rounded down.

Although this farcical comedy has been around in the community theatre circuit for over a decade, it really only became noticed with a high-profile production on Bway in July '23, directed by 'Seinfeld' alum Jason Alexander, and starring 'Will & Grace' star Eric McCormack and Laura Bell Bundy from 'Legally Blonde the Musical'.

Reviews were largely negative, and I can see why - although it did manage to eke out a 4-month run. It aspires to be a farcical romp along the lines of mid-career Coward, with some of the amatory and physical complications of Feydeau - but the lines are not really witty enough, and the pratfalls suggested do not 'work' on paper - nor apparently in production.

You know you are in trouble when the playwright starts off proceedings with a warning that absolutely NO lines are allowed to be cut (and dropping at least a half hour of the dreary, plodding dialogue would certainly help matters), nor resorting to a lengthy scene involving flatulence from a pregnant woman. Oh, dear.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/24/th...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rthiZ...

[Joey Maiden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wonderful comedy of manners! I hope to one day have the opportunity to see this play live!

[roma · Rating 3 out of 5]

delightfully silly and snappy although there are some astoundingly stupid bits

[Myna Sowell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very funny, fast, clever. Super fun play!

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Positively delightful! The zany quirks of the staging and how seriously the characters take themselves make this play positively hilarious.

I, honestly, thought it would push the envelope more than it does, and I am happy it fell short of those expectations. The play is witty and really does make fun of itself while also having a rather poignant conclusion.

There's really only one moment I didn't care for, but I also felt that way about Escanaba in Da Moonlight and was proven wrong by how funny that mlment was. I think this would be a very fun show to direct.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for a drama study group and found it to be a fun and silly poke at romantic and family relationships. Some great lines! I loved how mama had the proverbial last word.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this funny romp for 4 players. I hope we do it at BST.

[Javier Fernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't see that coming! The twist at the very end of the first act was brilliant! It hooked the audience and made everyone stay put for the second act.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great small stage play, very entertaining! I laughed out loud at a particular scene in Act II (you'll know it when you see/read it).

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5