Gold-diggers, circa 1707

’Stratagem’ follows two foppish fortune-hunters

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Wes Haskell, a third-year master of fine arts student atMichigan State University, says “The Beaux’ Stratagem” is a step awayfrom the kinds of guys he usually portrays. “I tend to play the "niceguy-next-door" roles, and Archer, at least at the beginning of thestory, is not what one would call a gentleman,” Haskell said.  

Thornton Wilder and Ken Ludwig’s adaptation of GeorgeFarquhar’s 1707 Restoration comedy follows Aimwell (Brandon Piper) andArcher (Wes Haskell), foppish fortune-hunters who travel through theEnglish countryside, attempting to seduce wealthy women and swindlethem out of their fortunes.

Haskell says that although he has never married a womanjust to steal her money, he has been desperate for things in his lifeand can relate to Archer’s ambition.

Haskell chose Archer as his thesis role because itpresents numerous challenges he has tried to overcome through training.A heightened language period piece has allowed him to try mixing twodialects of standard British and Cockey, along with physical combatscenes.

 “Our directorhas been very adamant about maintaining a spirit of play among theactors, so we are constantly playing and switching things up inrehearsals to keep things fresh and alive,” Haskell said.

Guest artist Edward Daranyi — previously the assistantdirector of Stratford Shakespeare festival — directs the production;MSU theater professor Christina Traister serves as fight director anddialect coach.

Haskell, Piper and the rest of the cast will participatein a post-show discussion of the comedy and its themes at the 7:30 p.m.performance on Nov. 17.

’The Beaux’ Stratagem’

Michigan State University Theater

Auditorium Theatre

8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11; 2 and 8 p.m.Saturday, Nov. 12; 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13; 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17; 8 p.m.Nov. 19 and 20; 2 p.m. Nov. 21

$13; $10 for students

(800) WHARTON

theatre.msu.edu

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