IT only took some 300 years, but George Farquhar’s rollicking comedy “The Constant Couple” has finally had its New York premiere, and for that we have the Pearl Theatre Company to thank. This plucky East Village group has been presenting great works to classical theater-starved local audiences for years, and it’s at its best in bringing long-forgotten works like this one back to life.
Written in 1699 by the then 22-year-old playwright, this Restoration comedy displays hilarious insights about love, marriage and honor that still feel relevant. What’s more, it’s fun.
To summarize the endlessly convoluted plot would take more space than we have here. Suffice it to say, it concerns numerous romantic pursuits involving deceits, mistaken identities, cross-dressing and stratagems as perpetrated by a wild cast of characters including rakes, schemers and women who are more than a match for the men when it comes to manipulation.
Under Jean Randich’s direction, the large ensemble tears into its broadly drawn roles with gusto, with particularly fun work by Bradford Cover as the licentious Sir Harry Wildair and Rachel Botchan as the conniving Lady Lurewell. Such minor characters as a roller-skating porter and a fop with a mop of pink hair add to the merriment.
The work is performed in a fashion largely faithful to its period, with its few contemporary touches ranging from the amusing (a woman examines her suitors via their Warhol-style portraits) to the sophomoric (Sir Harry assumes a “Karate Kid”-style pose during a duel). While there are a few rough spots in the production, they can be easily forgiven considering the modest circumstances.
Yes, it would be nice if New York had a classical theater with the resources of London’s Royal Shakespeare Company. Short of that, we must be grateful for the Pearl’s efforts to take up the slack.
THE CONSTANT COUPLE
Pearl Theatre Company, 80 St. Marks Place; (212) 598-9802. Through Dec. 23.