Abridged-erton
BATS Theatre, Studio, 1 Kent Tce, Wellington
18/02/2025 - 22/02/2025
Production Details
Director- Megan Ritchie
Producer- Lucie Richardson
Show devised collaboratively
Make Haste Productions
Dearest Gentle Reader,
The time has come for you to immerse yourself in the most delightful and scandalous affair of the season—Abridged-erton, a long-form improvised comedy inspired by the grandeur and romance of the hit Netflix series, Bridgerton.
Indeed, the course of each evening will be shaped by the whims of the audience, as we take your most daring ideas and transform them into moments of improvised comedy magic. From the grandest of ballroom dances to the most audacious of scandals, expect a whirlwind of unexpected twists, flirtations, and uproarious humour.
Fresh from a triumphant victory at Late Night Knife Fight, Abridged-erton hopes to be crowned the diamond of the Fringe season.
So, dear reader, I implore you—make haste! Secure your place at this one-of-a-kind spectacle before the opportunity is whisked away on the wings of gossip. The ton is already abuzz with anticipation, and it would be positively scandalous to be left out!
BATS Theatre – The Studio
18 – 22 February – 7.30pm
Waged: $25
Unwaged: $15
Extra Aroha Ticket: $40
TICKET LINKS:
https://bats.co.nz/whats-on/abridged-erton/
https://tickets.fringe.co.nz/event/446:6083/
We devised the show collaboratively and took on two wonderful additional players for NZ Fringe!
Creative team
Performer - Millie Osborne
Millie is a member of PopRox, where she showcases her wit in their regular Circa Theatre shows and her knack for crafting a great story in their long form shows such as Farce Onion. Millie is a cheeky performer which she matches with impressive technical skill.
Performer - Simran Rughani
Simran is an experienced improviser and has won BATS Late Night Knife Fight with Cursed Choice. She is a regular of the Wellington improv scene and is a popular cast member of The Big Hoo Haa. She’s a highly supportive player skilled at making scenes pop with bold offers.
Performer / Director- Megan Ritchie
Megan cut her teeth in MMM-pop and is now ready to step on the stage in a professional capacity! This show marks her NZ Fringe debut and first show as a director. Organised and passionate, each week she runs cast rehearsals focussing on specific skills.
Performer/ Producer - Lucie Richardson
Lucie is a stand up and improv comedian from England. She trained with the Oxford Imps (alums include Sophie Duker, winner of UK Taskmaster). She is now eager to grow her experience in long-form improv. This will be her NZ Fringe debut.
Tech- Lila Black
Cellist- Sebastian Morgan-Lynch
Comedy , Theatre , Improv ,
45 mins
The absurdity and foibles of the gentry showcased with creative skill, timing and hilarity
Review by Mitchell Manuel 19th Feb 2025
The improvised stage play Abridged-erton has a stellar cast of all female actors – Lucie Richardson, Megan Ritchie, Simran Rughani and Millie Osbourne – accompanied by cellist, Sebastian Morgan-Lynch, and mixer/tech machinist Lila Black.
Inspired by the Netflix hit Bridgerton which is set in the early 1900s Regency era, where class and richness are regarded as signs of great nobility and intelligence, Abridged-erton takes these distinctions and turns them into a parody of how class-less the era was. I love how they lampoon it with creative skill, timing and hilarity.
With true Bridgerton style, our players are dressed in a maximalist aesthetic of fine gowns, lacquered lips, eyebrow colouring, rouge and face powder. They introduce us to the tropes of the era:
Romance, even if it is seven minutes inside a closet for the likely mismatched Master Henry and his paramour;
Balls, where Italian Concerto in F Major or Piano Sonata No. 14 in C Minor would have been the music of day but instead funky music is humorously added;
Courtship, which has nothing to do with love.
I’ve always loved a costume drama. While Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice critiques Regency England’s social values and customs as restrained by etiquette and high social expectations, Abridged-erton plays the era for laughs, giggles and truth.
Yes, Truth. The cast of Abridged-erton play with the ideas of elegance and decorum, the quirks of society, the caricatures and absurdities of social conventions and class distinctions. Witty exchanges at get-togethers, where proper manners mask sharp tongues, create a delightful atmosphere of playful verbal banter.
Abridged-erton is a comedic paradise of improvisation. As the clever actors bring this show together, we know each show in the season will be different.
Lucie (Producer) and Meagan (Director) are seasoned improv practitioners with Simran and Millie (members of Poprox) adding to an ensemble where cleverness, waggishness, opportunistic repartee and rallying from the audience adds to an enjoyable show.
The cast’s witty portrayal of the farcical showcases the absurdity of romantic pursuits and the foibles of the gentry. This blend of satire and playful banter infuses Abridged-erton life with a light-hearted charm that endures well after I step from BATS into Poneke evening that feels charming and warm.
Dearest readers, do come to the show: Abridged-erton.
Copyright © in the review belongs to the reviewer
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