“Engaged” was the tree on which my heart could not stop laughing. The comedy written by William Schwenck Gilbert was performed at the Bonnie Kate theatre in Elizabethton.
The play followed Cheviot Hill, a young wealthy man looking for love. However, he seemed to fall in love with whomever he was in the company of. Hill was played by Milligan College’s own Brandon Jones, resident director of Webb.
Hill constantly got himself into trouble by telling three different women that he loved them. To quote the line: “You are the essence of every hope; you are the tree upon which the fruit of my heart is growing–my Past, my Present, my Future–you are my own To Come.”
Whenever that line started, a flurry of laughter came from the crowd, including myself. Jones delivered the line perfectly every time.
The plot of “Engaged” showed how Hill’s love toward multiple women got him in trouble when he ended up in a “Scots marriage”—a marriage that only needs two people and for the couple to both say they love each other.
Other Milligan faculty and staff could be found among the characters, including associate professor of Bible and humanities John Jackson as Mr. Symperson, his wife and research and instruction librarian Mary Jackson as Mrs. MacFarlane, and Sutton’s resident director Corri Carpenter as Minnie.
The atmosphere of the Bonnie Kate theater was fitting as well. You walk in and find yourself in a historic theatre. No movie style seats, but jaw dropping ceilings. It added to the experience.
The only complaint I had was I couldn’t always make out what the Scottish characters were saying. However, the delicious pastries and wonderful theatre staff more than made up for it.
I will enjoy going back to another play soon.