Seton Hill University typically performs a classical work during its season in an effort to expose a variety of literary examples to its theater students.

When Steven Wilson was asked to direct Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s 18th century comedy of manners, “The Rivals,” he knew he faced a challenge.

“‘The Rivals’ was chosen to offer the students some experience with a classic piece of text requiring heightened language and movement,” said Wilson, who directed the musical “Company” for the university in 2018 and “She Kills Monsters” in 2015.

Engaging the students

“After reading ‘The Rivals,’ it became apparent to me that if I was going to engage the students with this production, I would need to create an adaptation of it.”

Wilson believes it is the responsibility of artists to carefully consider how older texts can speak to contemporary artists and audiences.

“As educational institutions begin – as they should – to prioritize Equity, Diversity and Inclusion efforts, it becomes the responsibility of theater makers to consider these efforts creating stage productions,” the director said.

“This play is an 18th Century Restoration piece that was created by and for white people. I go into every artistic project looking to collaborate with as many different types of people as possible both on and offstage.”

The comedy in its adapted format will be performed Feb. 21-29 at Seton Hill University Performing Arts Center in Greensburg.

Taking on the challenge

Layne Lueckert, a senior musical theater major from Donegal, was anxious to take on the challenge by performing the role of Lydia Languish, an 18-year-old heiress so enamored with books about romantic fantasies that she devises a scheme to marry a poor clerk in order to live out one of them.

“I was eager to see what (Wilson) was going to create in order to modernize the text a little and make it more relatable,” she said.

Cameron Nickel, a senior theater performance and business administration major from Bethel Park, plays Faulkland, a “slightly-less-rich-but-still-absurdly-wealthy friend of Captain Jack Absolute, and romantic interest of Lydia Languish’s cousin Julia Melville.”

“Faulkland is constantly anxious and jealous when it comes to his relationship with Julia, and Jack tends to egg him on to the point that he is completely out of control and having a meltdown,” he said.

Taking comedy to the next level

Nickel said the production is unlike anything that audiences will be expecting. When he first read the script, he fell in love with Sheridan’s wit and sense of comedy – but “Steven Wilson’s adaptation of the play has just taken all of that to the next level.”

Malcolm McGraw, a senior musical theater major from Pittsburgh, plays Anthony Absolute, an older gentleman that wants what’s best for his son, Captain Jack.

He said people should come to see the show to see a blend of the past, when the show was originally written, and the present.

“It is a big triangle of love with lots of laughs and antics,” McGraw said. “I think the take-away from this play is honesty. While it can be fun to play games, it is honestly better to be your true self.”

Preserving the spirit of the past

Wilson, an adjunct professor in theater at Seton Hill and Point Park universities, said the idea of taking a play such as “The Rivals” – because it is in the public domain – and doing an adaptation is an exciting challenge that modernizes the script while still preserving the spirit of the original production.

“My goals with the adaptation are to bring the story closer to the audience by clarifying some of the text to speak to a modern ear, creating a world in which performers of all walks of life can find their way into this play without having to imagine themselves in a world that does not include them,” he said, “and finally, to make it as funny as it was when it first premiered.”

The director said his wish is that audiences come to the show and laugh.

“These characters and these situations in this play are zany and these young artists are putting their all into their performances in hopes that the audience has as much fun as we’ve had creating it,” he said.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)