A hilarious, fast-paced romantic comedy with a British farcical flair. The Cottage is a laugh-out-loud, two hours of pure joy.

~Review and Photos by Dana Nöllsch~

“The Cottage” The Story

The Cottage opens in 1923 on a lovely morning in an English country cottage. The audience is greeted by a beautiful couple who have just engaged in a passionate connection. But there are complications just on the horizon for this happy couple.

Three couples are unexpectedly intertwined with each other as circumstances and a couple of not-so-well-thought-out telegraphs bring them together in a quaint family cottage. As they gather, the web of secrets unravels, and the truth is discovered in a calm and polite English way.

Sylvia is bored with her husband but not with his brother, Beau. Beau is a bit bored with his life in general and is looking for distractions. Beau’s very pregnant wife, Marjorie, is excited for the big changes to come. Clarke, Beau’s brother, sees his dream of a family of his own coming true. Beau’s mistress Dierdre sees murder on the horizon. Richard rediscovers his first love as his web of lies comes unraveled.

If this seems a bit complicated, well, it is, but the first-rate writing and fast-paced acting bring this convoluted premise to a hilarious bit of chaos.

The Cottage feels like a modern take on a Noël Coward comedy with a feminist slant. There is something for everyone in this highly entertaining comedy, a solidly written and wonderfully acted escape from reality, and we all can use a bit of that, can’t we?

The Cottage is a hilarious, fast-paced romantic comedy (with a dash of farce and potential murder) written by Sandy Rustin. It premiered on Broadway in 2023 (directed by Jason Alexander) and is often described as a modern, feminist twist on Noël Coward-style drawing-room comedies.

First performed at the Astoria Performing Arts Center in 2013, The Cottage made its Broadway debut in 2023, with Jason Alexander directing, to critical acclaim.

Here are some photos to give you a taste of “The Cottage.”

The Performances

The performances are as wonderful as I have ever seen on a Reno stage, and the actors and director should be very proud of what they have created in this production of The Cottage.

Sadie Moss Hart plays Sylvia, the vivacious femme fatale with big energy and beauty. Hart embodies the character with her talent, bringing Sylvia to life for the audience. Be sure to watch how she conveys emotions with just one look.

Beau is played wonderfully by Patrick Mink. Mink brings the “I don’t care” attitude to his character while, at the same time, standing toe to toe with Hart and her portrayal of Sylvia. Mink is also very good at conveying emotion with his brilliant facial expressions.

The cast has subtle accents that fit the time and place, bringing the audience with them to the English countryside. I also have to say that the entire cast is very well balanced and giving to each other; in the end, the cast gives the audience performances that will delight them.

The Bottom Line

For a highly entertaining and funny date night or if you want to laugh for a couple of hours, be sure to make your way to Reno Little Theater to see The Cottage.

The Cottage