Holy Cross Theatre Department to Perform ‘The London Merchant’

The department of theatre at the College of the Holy Cross will present the 18th century show “The London Merchant” written by George Lillo and directed by Scott Malia, assistant professor of theatre, on October 31 and November 1-2 and 8-9 at 8 p.m. in Fenwick Theatre (located on the second floor of O’Kane Hall). Tickets are $7 for members of the Holy Cross community and $10 for the general public. Tickets can be reserved by calling the box office at (508)-793-2496.

In this seldom-seen 18th -century tragedy, the narrative follows George Barnwell, a naïve young apprentice who is seduced by the prostitute Sarah Millwood.  She leads him down a path of duplicity, theft and murder; as his loved ones try to prevent his descent into crime, the young man wrestles with his sense of duty, identity and morality.  George Lillo’s gripping play asks whether we can ever achieve true forgiveness and redemption.

“The play is about the darkness in each of us,” said Malia. “To emphasize this, we've set the play during the time of Jack the Ripper, so the audience can expect some scares along with the deep moral questions the play asks.”

The play features a cast of 19 undergraduate students, including Patrick Simas ’14 as George Barnwell and Cecilia Wolfe ’15 as Sarah Millwood. In addition to an entirely undergraduate cast, students also make up the production crew, from lighting and sound to props and costume.

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Image by John Buckingham.