The Lady Demands Satisfaction
By Arthur M. Jolly
Directed by Michael M. McMillan
Produced by Rover Dramawerks
Audience Rating: PG
Running Time: 2 hours, 15 minutes (15-minute intermission)
Accessible Seating: Available
Hearing Devices: Not Available
Sensory Friendly: Not Available
ASL Showing: Not Available
Noises or Visuals to Prepare For: None of note
Reviewed by Stacey Simpson
Rover Dramawerks’ production of Arthur M. Jolly’s The Lady Demands Satisfaction is a high-energy romp, blending 18th-century story elements with modern wit, feminist flair, and physical comedy that keeps the audience engaged from the first duel to the final curtain.
The plot of this farce is dizzying, involving an array of mistaken identities, secret maneuvers, unusual will codicils, and high-stakes sword fights. Just when you think you’ve untangled the web of who is wooing whom (and who is trying to stab whom), Jolly throws in another plot twist. Despite its complicated nature, Michael McMillan’s surefooted direction moves things along briskly so that the audience is happy to hold on for the ride.
Set in 1756 England, the story follows the efforts of young Trothe Pepperston’s (Shea McMillan) efforts to ward off any challengers who might take advantage of a peculiar term of her late father’s will to gain control of her family manor and estate, Pepperston Hall. Along the way she leans on the support and varying degrees of wisdom from her father’s friend and counselor, Lord Abernathy (Alex Eding) her two loyal servants, Penelope (Andra Laine Hunter) and Tilly (Darcy Krokus), her milksop suitor, the poet Osric (Devin Hite), and her aunt Theodosia Pepperston, who happens to be one of the greatest swordswomen of all time (Sherry Etzel, enthusiastically throwing herself into this remarkable role).
One of the production’s notable elements is the choreographed chaos of its sword fighting. The stage frequently erupts into a flurry of steel with elaborate duels choreographed by Annie R. Such. The fights use the entirety of the small space, including the furnishings, to good effect.
Complementing the physical action is an elevated and very funny script peppered with references to classical literature. The repeated, comical references to the real meaning of the term “nunnery” in Shakespeare’s Hamlet were a theatre nerd’s dream! The small cast gamely takes on the required accents, language, and mannerisms for this period piece set in mid-18th century England. The wide-eyed Shea McMillan plays a spoiled, naive Trothe Pepperston who may just have some hidden depths. Her secret love for the oily Osric (Devin Hite) and attempt to keep Pepperston Hall so that she can be with him propels much of the farce’s plot machinations. Alex Eding’s portrayal of Lord Abernathy perfectly captures the excruciatingly confident tone of a true "mansplainer," delivering his unsolicited advice and condescension with a puffed-out chest and clueless certainty.
Andra Laine Hunter delivers a truly noteworthy performance as the teenage Trothe’s most favorite (or is it second favorite?) long-time servant Penelope. Amidst the escalating shenanigans, Hunter’s character is the heart and mind of the play. She anchors the farce with a native intelligence that takes her much further than the limited book-learning she received, as well as a grounded warmth. Penelope reminds us that while the nobles are busy putting on airs and dueling, it’s often those behind the scenes who are truly running the show. Darcy Krokus as Tilly, a servant girl who reluctantly ends up posing as a Prussian fencing master, and Toni Arroyo as Luitger, an actual Prussian fencing master who shows up unexpectedly to add another layer of confusion, round out the energetic cast.
The Lady Demands Satisfaction is a vibrant, classically-derived comedy with a modern edge that proves Rover Dramawerks knows how to handle a blade – and a punchline. See it through February 1, 2026. Tickets are available at roverdramawerks.com
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