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CENTRE STAGE: Sheridan’s classic The Rivals is full of wit

First performed in 1775, this British comedy of manners by Richard Brinsley Sheridan is surprisingly relevant in its latest rendition set in the Edwardian era by Blackbird Theatre. Over-the-top characters, witty dialogue, and confused identities make this an enduring play that, while quaint and old fashioned, manages to feel fresh. The rivals in question are men hoping to marry Miss Lydia Languish (Emma Slipp), niece of Mrs. Malaprop (Gabrielle Rose) who is desperate to find her a suitable husband. Lydia has her own ideas about who she would like to marry and plans to run away and elope with a…

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