Written by Nick Jones
Directed by Amy Rummenie
February 6 – 28, 2015
Red Eye Theater
Lucidus is a bloody coward. After being compelled by his overbearing father to defend the family name, he challenges an unsuspecting gentleman to a duel. This is Lucidus’ first mistake. Terrified and squeamish, he hires a thug to fight in his place. This is Lucidus’ second mistake. He’ll make more. A lot more. The Coward is a manly comedy about manly honor… played by a company of women.
Cast
Production Team
| Lucidus Culling | Briana Patnode | Director | Amy Rummenie |
| Nathaniel Culling | Jean Wolff | Set | Eli Schlatter |
| Gavin Klaff | Suzie Juul | Costumes | Sara Wilcox |
| Robert Blithe | Shelby Rose Richardson | Asst. Costumer | Jessica Bell |
| Henry Blaine | Charlotte Calvert | Lighting | Jesse Cogswell |
| Isabelle Dupree | Chase Burns | Sound | Michael Croswell |
| Earl of Dorchester | Debra Berger | Props | Abbee Warmboe |
| + Finn | Blood Design | Tyler Olsen | |
| + King’s Messenger | RawRedMeat Productions | ||
| Derek Lanley | Suzanne Victoria Cross | Blood Assistant | Theresa Purcell |
| + Egbert the Bartender | Fight Choreographer | Meredith Larson | |
| Friedmont the Butler | Linda Sue Anderson | Dialect Coach | Keely Wolter |
| + Old Man | Stage Manager | Sarah Holmberg | |
| Asst. Stage Manager | Karina Grimaldi | ||
| Asst. Director | Jesica Springer |
Reviews
“I went to this show intending to write notes. I really had lots of notes planned. Really. I wanted to write about its examination of gender roles. I hoped to say a few things about the script by Nick Jones, and the unspoken guarantee of a stellar cast that one gets from a Walking Shadow production. Then there was the set design and, more notably, the blood design. (Yes, this show has a blood designer. It’s goremaster Tyler Olsen of RawRedMeat Productions.)
I couldn’t focus on any of that, though, because ‘The Coward‘ was so good that I could barely look away. Although I’d gone there to take notes, I got so busy watching the show that there was hardly time to stop and write…
Highlights included the cast, the set design, sound design, costumes, lighting, props… Alright, let’s face it: Everything in this show is a highlight. From the first line to the big, bloody climax, ‘The Coward‘ is a pretty much flawless comedy.”
– Rob Callahan, VitaMN
“Like the best black comedies, The Coward is both funny and grotesque. Walking Shadow Theatre Company has turned it into a delightful and gory confection. And just to twist the story further, director Amy Rummenie has cast women to play the male roles, while the lone female part is played by a man.”
– Ed Huyck, City Pages
“The performances are excellent. I’ve mentioned Charlotte Calvert as Blaine – terrific. I loved Suzie Juul and Shelby Rose Richardson as Lucidus’s pals; they made excellent foils and my happiness swelled every time they marched on stage. Linda Sue Anderson, as the put-upon butler, made me howl – she is beautifully resourceful and creative. Ditto Chase Burns as the 18 going on 35 Isabelle Dupree. Briana Patnode plays the eponymous coward, struggling to maintain his poise as the other characters swirl around him. Lovely. If you like campy farce, The Coward is the play to see.”
– John Olive, HowWasTheShow
