By Sandy Rustin
World Premiere
“Sometimes you just need a good laugh. If you’re feeling down, you might want to take the N train to 30th Avenue in Astoria and spend some time at The Cottage, Sandy Rustin’s very entertaining drawing-room comedy at the Astoria Performing Arts Center….The Cottage is funny. Genuinely funny. It is sure to put a smile on even the saddest person’s face.” -Theatermania.com
2014 QUEENS KUDOS AWARD WINNER:
Best Actress (Amy Rutberg)
2014 NY IT AWARDS NOMINATIONS:
Outstanding Lighting Design (Evan Roby)
Outstanding Set Design (Stephen K. Dobay)
Outstanding Costume Design (Ryan Moller)
November 7-23, 2013
EQUITY APPROVED SHOWCASE
The Cottage is a rollicking farce inspired by the works of Noel Coward. Set in the English countryside in 1923, this tale of sex, betrayal and, oh yes, love, unfolds when Sylvia Van Kipness decides to expose her love affair to her husband and her lover’s wife. The true meanings of fate, identity and marriage are called into question as a surprising, hilarious web of secrets unravels in this ridiculous—and potentially murderous—romantic comedy.
Playwright Sandy Rustin
The Cottage was selected as part of Midtown Direct Rep’s 2013 Theatre in the Loft Series (The New York Times calls Midtown Direct Rep “the place to discover the next great play”). The staged reading was directed by Adam Dannheisser, and featured Catherine Brunell (Mary Poppins), Bradley Dean (Evita), Stephanie Kurtzuba (Billy Elliot) and Jamie Laverdiere (Motown).
—
This program is supported in part by public funds from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and NYSCA.
Photos
Rehearsal Photos by Bradley Hawks
Inside The Cottage
Press
PHOTO CALL: Broadway’s Rock of Ages Visits The Cottage at APAC
Works By Women: Interview with Sandy Rustin
Broadway Rocker Directs APAC’s The Cottage (Queens Gazette)
A Day at the Cottage (We Heart Astoria Blog Post)
Adam Dannheisser: The Cottage Interview on CallMeAdam.com
Broadway World show announcement
Playbill show announcement
Reviews
“Playwright Sandy Rustin’s script is pitch-perfect, its whole tone and structure completely in keeping with the Noel Coward style and polished to a high shine…The gags are abundant, the laughs equally so, the attitude light and the outcome pleasing as punch. The Cottage makes for a very agreeable, surprisingly thoughtful, completely charming evening.” -Woman Around Town
“The Cottage sparkles with humor and charm…one would assume it was a long lost masterpiece of Noel Coward’s…the audience in stitches from the beginning of the twisting, turning plot to the splendid climax…Rustin deserves further praise for her uncanny way with words, engaging story, true understanding of the style in which she was writing and the era she was writing about, and her razor-sharp humor.” -Queens Gazette
“It is oh so civilized, and oh so very funny…Rustin said she wanted to write a play that followed the rules and structure of a Coward comedy, but provided stronger roles for the women in the cast. At last week’s world premiere, it’s clear Rustin more than accomplished her goal.” -Times Ledger
“Buoyed by a provocative, farcical script and strong performances, The Cottage production gushes with lust and decadence. Recommended if you enjoy productions brimming with booze, cigarettes, sex…” -Maxamoo
“A fabulously fresh farce by playwright Sandy Rustin.” -Queens Courier
“A story of big personalities, well-earned laughs, and hidden connections revealed at dramatically opportune moments, The Cottage is fueled by witty dialogue [and] lots of humor…All these elements spin up into a delightful farce impressively true to the tradition it co-opts.” -Blog Critics
Blog Posts
The Usher, The Victorian Window and The Universe
Bring Your Sweet Tooth to the Show
A Day in the Life of Amy Rutberg
Set Build - A Week in Pictures
What Adam Learned on His Summer Vacation (Director Adam Dannheisser talks The Cottage)
Dominating Ladies in a Male Dominated Genre (Playwright Sandy Rustin talks The Cottage)
Casting by the Numbers (Casting Director Scott Wojcik talks The Cottage)
Interview: Sandy Rustin | Works by Women
[…] The Cottage runs through November 23rd at APAC n Queens. For tckets and more nformaton, vst APAC’s webste. […]
For Broadway’s Adam Dannheiser, “The Cottage” Industry Rocks | The Clyde Fitch Report
[…] And so t s ndeed that playwrght Sandy Rustn has been nspred to wrte The Cottage, an orgnal farce mounted by the Astora Performng Arts Center (at the Good Shepherd U…. […]