February 25, 2017
A Glass of Water
Eugène Scribe
Romantic comedy in two acts
London. St James’s Palace. England is waging an exhausting war, Europe is waiting for peace, and the fate of states, ministers and armies unexpectedly becomes entangled with secret letters, court intrigues, jealousy and romantic misunderstandings.
At the centre of events is the clever, brilliant and dangerously charming Bolingbroke, who is trying to secure a meeting between the French envoy and Queen Anne and bring the end of the war closer. But at court, power belongs not so much to the Queen as to her imperious favourite, the Duchess of Marlborough. She is used to ruling the palace, politics and the Queen herself, allowing no crack in her authority.
Young Abigail and Captain Masham are unexpectedly drawn into this great game. Their love becomes part of a political intrigue, while simple human feelings — jealousy, fear, loyalty and hope — begin to influence decisions on which the fate of the country depends.
A Glass of Water is an elegant historical comedy about how great events are born not only in parliaments and on battlefields, but also in boudoirs, drawing rooms and palace corridors. Here politics resembles a card game, love becomes a risky conspiracy, and a tiny accident can change the course of history.
Photos from the performance
