Edgar Allen Poe liked it so much that he saw it eight times.
Fashion, Anna Cora Mowatt’s comedy of Manhattan manners, which was first produced in 1845 and skewers consumerism, class consciousness, and the pitfalls of debt culture in that era, opens on Saturday, July 2, at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga, and will run through October 2, in rotation with the group’s other productions.
The production will feature live music and songs of the era.
Fashion was one of the first plays by a woman to be produced on a New York stage and one of the few plays to survive its time, but, despite the play’s initial popularity, it is rarely performed now.
The new production was directed by Ellen Geer and features Jeff Bergquist, Abby Craden, Thad Geer, Willow Geer, Mark Lewis, Melora Marshall, Steve Matt, Eric Stein, Barbara Tarbuck, Elizabeth Tobias and Gaven Van Over
It will open Saturday at 8 p.m. A pre-show discussion is scheduled on Saturday, July 16 at 7 p.m.
The Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum is located at 1419 North Topanga Canyon Boulevard.
As the outdoor amphitheater is terraced into the hillside of the rustic canyon, audience members are advised to dress casually (warmly for evenings) and bring cushions for bench seating. The Botanicum Cafe opens in advance of performances, and picnickers are welcome before or after the performance.For tickets, call (310) 455-3723 or visit www.theatricum.com
