Enchanted April
By Matthew Barber
March 24 - April 15, 2006

Directed by Terry Veal

Based on the 1921 best-selling novel by Elizabeth Von Arnim, Barber fashions a romantic comedy that begins in the gloomy days of post-WWI London. From there, four ladies embark on a month-long holiday at an Italian villa in order to escape their humdrum lives.

Under the wisteria vines and sunny skies, they discover their true selves, rediscover romance and forge lasting friendships.

All performances are in Stage Center’s arena theater, located at 400 W. Sheridan in downtown Oklahoma City.

"For those who appreciate wisteria and sunshine…" reads the opening of a London Times ad for a castle on the Mediterranean in Northern Italy that is available to lease for the month of April. When the ad captures Lotty’s imagination, she begins plotting her escape from rainy Hampstead. In short order, she approaches a woman from church, Rose Arnott, to share the adventure and the expenses. When Rose is reticent, Lotty bulldozes ahead and puts down her personal nest egg as a deposit. Still in need of money, and convinced that Rose will relent, Lotty composes a new ad to attract two more ladies to share the castle and the expenses. Soon, Lady Caroline, a young socialite, and Mrs. Graves, an imperious widow, agree to join them in Italy. Lotty and Rose announce their departure to their flabbergasted husbands and set out.

Act Two finds the four ladies in Italy, attended by Costanza, the Italian housekeeper. After nine days of sunshine and boating, the women are joined by their landlord, a handsome young artist, and through a series of surprises, Lotty and Rose’s husbands arrive. The mix of company leads to some tests and near disasters, however the once estranged couples reignite their flagging marriages. By play’s end, the seemingly disparate group forms a lasting bond of friendship, and we learn that they all will return to the castle for many years to come. In short, the Italian enchantment that Lotty foresaw does work its magic over each of the characters in unexpected ways.

Playwright Matthew Barber received the 2003 John Gassner Award for Outstanding New American Play and his adaptation was a 2003 Tony Award nominee for Best Play. Local audiences may be more familiar with the 1992 film of “Enchanted April” which featured such actors as Joan Plowright, Miranda Richardson, Alfred Molina and Jim Broadbent. An earlier film version starring Ann Harding opened in 1935, while the first stage version played Broadway in 1925. This will be the first staging in Oklahoma City of Barber’s version.

Carpenter Square Theatre is the recipient of a project assistance grant from the Oklahoma Arts Council for this production. Additional support is provided by the Kirkpatrick Family Fund and Allied Arts. The show is an Allied Arts Star Card event.

”Enchanted April” is rated PG.