The audience are transported back to August 1815 and the Duchess of Buckingham has an announcement to make about her husband in The Duchess of Buckingham Regrets to Inform You That Her Husband is Dead. However, this news is met with delight by most of the family, who appear to have good reasons to have disliked the Duke.
As the family gather to hear the will being read there’s a clause in the inheritance left to the Duchess, Selina by her late husband, which states that she has to marry a man of nobility within seven days to continue living in the family home with all the money or she loses everything.
The stage has two boards at the rear of the stage within a frame depicting window views. These change depending on which place the family is in at the time and are very effective at letting the audience know who the characters are.
Will the Duchess’s newfound love turn out to be the family’s ticket to save the inheritance? Or will they lose everything and be left penniless and homeless? It’s light-hearted family entertainment which has two performances a day at Paradise Green.
The storyline has plenty of comedy throughout the play and the characters are well cast. The production would benefit from minor edits to keep the momentum of the storyline pace going as the scene changes can feel drawn out at times.
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Three Stars.
Creatives/Company
Author: Niamh Dunne
Company: Ruckus Theatre Company
Design(s): Bethany F Knowles (also company manager),
Julia Irvine (also production manager)
Director: Montaz Marche
Other(s): Melissa Fry (treasurer), Megan Ross (secretary – marketing coordinator)
Theatre, Art and Film Reviews 
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