Sep 19 - Oct 11, 2025

Directed by Chris Hatch

“We’ll see whether she manages to find her way out of her own plot.” – Orgon

“It is a plot that cannot fail to amuse us.” - Mario

All’s fair in love and war—or so the saying goes. But once the games begin will the high-spirited socialite Silvia and her well-suited suitor Dorante feel the same? Masks, mischief, and mayhem abound in this witty romantic comedy where the paupers become the privileged and the privileged become the paupers—and everyone becomes a player in the hilariously heartwarming Game of Love and Chance. 

Run Time: Approx. 2 hrs, including one 15 minute intermission

SHOWTIMES

Thursdays - 7:30PM

Fridays - 7:30PM

Saturdays - 2:30PM & 7:30PM

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CAST

SILVIA
Solange Gosselin

LISETTE
Rachael Fedor-Buchanan

DORANTE
Talon Powell

HARLEQUIN
Dave Spychalski

MARIO
Harris Skinner

ORGON
Mike Garvey

PRODUCTION TEAM

Director: Chris Hatch
Assistant Director & Props: Kai Crumley
Choreographer: Kennedy Jordan
Intimacy Director: Lindsay Brandon Hunter
Set Designer: Marc Quattlebaum
Lighting Designer: Brian Cavanagh
Costumes/Hair/Makeup Designer: Collin Ranney
Technical Director: Lou Iannone
Paint Charge/Scenic Artist: Shannon Halloran
Wardrobe: Amaya Mack
Sound Designer: Geoff Tocin
Stage Manager: Derek Moran
Assistant Stage Manager: Dino Bruce
Build Crew: Jessica Speice, Aaron Koscielniak, &
J.C. Hartloff

MEET THE CAST

INTERVIEW WITH THE DIRECTOR

CHRIS HATCH ON THE GAME OF LOVE AND CHANCE MODERATED BY HARRIS SKINNER

What made you choose The Game of Love and Chance?

CHRIS:
This is my favorite comedy in the history of theatre. It has wonderful comic scenes, thoughtful characters, beautiful romantic moments, and it’s a play that makes audiences feel good when they leave the theatre. And it’s such a great play for actors to dig into. Some people find comedies to be a lesser form of storytelling than dramatic acting. But the level of craft that is needed by the actors to execute these roles is very high. It gives actors the opportunity to explore moments of nuanced realism-style acting and moments of broader comedic acting all in the same play… sometimes in the same scene! For the theatre people out there… it sometimes bounces back and forth between Stanislavski and slapstick. And the situational comedy that Marivaux writes in this play is top-notch. It’s a really fun scenario that Marivaux places the characters in, and the audience finds such joy in watching the characters navigate the changing rules of the “game” that is being played.

What do you admire about Marivaux?

CHRIS:
I like Marivaux’s plays because they are funny and they have heart. One moment you will be laughing, and the next moment you will say “aww” because something happened that was so romantic or so darn cute. But underneath that, Marivaux was also writing plays that were Theatre for Social Change. He was examining the class structure and questioning how it operated. So he makes you laugh and then he makes you say “aww” and then, by the end, he’s also making you think… while you are still laughing.

You’ve implemented a lot of 80’s aesthetics into this production. What was the reason behind that design choice?

CHRIS:
Marivaux wrote a lot of plays in which social class was an influence running through the play. I realized that, when I was a kid, a lot of the rom-coms in the 1980’s also used class as a way to distinguish characters. Some of my old favorites like Some Kind of Wonderful or One Crazy Summer or Dirty Dancing all use class as part of the conflict between the lover characters of those movies. So we came up with a style that we are calling “Bubble Gum Baroque.” The play is set in the 1730’s but we give it a heavy splash of the 1980’s with our design choices, our music, and our performance choices. I think it allows for a playful accessibility to this classic script that modern audiences will enjoy.

Why should audiences see this show?

CHRIS:
Our mission with this show was to create a funny, beautiful, joyful, romantic-comedy that is a great night in the theatre for the whole family, or for a date night, or a night out with friends, or for anyone that could use a little splash of fun in their lives. If you like movies like The Princess Bride or some of those funny 80’s rom-coms, then this play will be up your alley. Heck, if you like K-Pop Demon Hunters, I think you will like this play… those stories that combine silliness, romance, and great music. I think this will also be a great play to bring the person who says that they don’t like theatre to. It is colorful, it is bold, and you might even find yourself dancing in your seats at some point to some great 80’s soundtrack. And then, as you drive home, listening to an 80’s station on Sirius XM or Spotify, you may start to ponder what Marivaux was trying to subversively say about class and if that still seems to be the case today.

Which commedia characters would you tell audiences to familiarize themselves with in preparation for this show?

CHRIS:
The Game of Love and Chance was originally performed by a company of Italian actors who had a strong background in commedia but were also good at other acting styles. That’s one reason why Marivaux liked working with them so much. They could do big comedy, and they could do more nuanced work as well. We definitely see characters in this play that are influenced by commedia servant characters (the zanni). I would argue that is the strongest connection. We also see aspects of commedia lover characters. We could also play the brother character like a later-version of a character like Brighella, but we would probably be simply taking aspects of those classic commedia characters rather than it being a clear-cut direct line.

COMMEDIA CHARACTERS

Zanni: The Zanni were the servant characters. There are many different types of Zanni, and they can be characterized as cunning, naive, blase, or some combination of all. They are recognizable for their acrobatic physicality and boisterous movements. As Hatch said, Zanni is not simply one type of character, but rather a class of several different characters who are all present within this production.

Harlequin (Arlecchino): Harlequin is often characterized as a clever master of improvisation with a fondness for food and a simple nature. He is a faithful and loyal servant to his master, and he keeps the audience laughing with his unpredictable actions and hyper-absurd movements.

Brighella: Brighella was a very meddlesome and scheming Zanni. He would concoct games and play pranks on the other characters, and he was ready to fufill any mean request of his master. Where our production differs from the conventional portrayal of Brighella is in this meanness. Audiences will find in our show that our prankster is leading from a place of playfulness rather than maliciousness.

The Innamorati (Lovers): The Innamorati were the driving forces in Commedia plays. Their love is what motivated the Zanni to create such hilarious plots surrounding the lovers. As Hatch has said in rehearsals many times, “The only thing the Lovers love more than each other is being in love.” The joyful union of these lovers would constitute a Commedia play’s happy ending.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Final Dress Preview: Our final dress rehearsal is a donation-based admission. Donations can be either cash or non-perishable foods. Food donations received are donated to our on-campus food pantry.
Thursday, September 18, 2025 - 7:30PM

Opening Night Toast: Join us for a celebratory toast before the performance, included with the purchase of an opening night ticket.
Friday, September 19, 2025

Cocktail Hour: Join us in the Kav Lounge for a relaxed pre-show hang featuring drink specials, light bites, and show-inspired photo ops. It’s free with your ticket - just come early and grab a seat while they last!
Thursday, September 25, 2025 - 6:00PM

VIP Night: Subscribers, donors, and partners are invited to join us before the show for light snacks, a complimentary drink, and a quick behind-the-scenes experience with the people who make the magic happen.
Friday, September 26, 2025 - 6:00PM

Trivia Night: Join us in the Kav Lounge for a pre-show round of fast, fun, no-pressure Trivia with fellow theatre lovers. Players score exclusive drink discounts, light snacks, and bragging rights - and the winner takes home Kav tickets plus a $40 Lounge Tab to use during any Kavinoky mainstage performances. No team required - just bring your brain!
Friday, October 3, 2025 - 6:00PM

Post-Show Discussions: Stick around after the show on selected nights for a candid conversation with the cast, crew, and creative team. Moderated and thoughtfully structured, these lively discussions are a chance to ask questions, share reflections, and connect with the art—and the artists—on a deeper level. Free and open to all ticket holders.
Thursday, October 2, 2025 - 9:30PM
Thursday, October 9, 2025 - 9:30PM