LETTICE AND LOVAGE To Be Presented At Open Book Theatre

Open Book Theatre Company (OBTC). From May 8 to 31, 2026, OBTC will present Lettice and Lovage, the witty and heartwarming comedy by Peter Shaffer, the legendary playwright behind Amadeus and Equus.

Lettice and Lovage follows the eccentric Lettice Douffet: a tour guide with a flair for the dramatic and a questionable regard for the truth. When her "embellished" histories collide with the icy professionalism of inspector Lotte Schoen, it sparks a hilarious battle of wills. What begins as a clash of polar opposites evolves into an unlikely friendship as both women discover a shared need for connection in a rapidly changing world.

“For years I've been hoping that someone would produce this play!” says Wendy Katz Hiller, who stars as Lettice Douffet. “Lettice is a dream role for me. She's so much fun to explore. She is larger than life: dramatic and silly, but she also has a real heart and deep emotions. It's a joy to crawl inside this character each night. She's much freer than I am in my ‘real life.' That's a lot of fun to play with.”

“People will enjoy this show because it is so human and relatable,” adds Kez Settle, who plays the straight-laced Lotte Schoen. “It deals with those things we struggle with daily in terms of finding our relevance in a world that is rapidly changing and not always for the better. People will also enjoy the deeply human connection; the friendship that grows between these two polar opposite characters.”

COMMUNITY GUEST STARS STEP INTO THE SPOTLIGHT

In an exciting twist for this production, every performance will feature two community members in exclusive Guest Star walk-on roles. These guest artists will join the professional cast on stage for the opening sequence, playing intrepid tourists visiting the grand Fustian House. Information about these local stars will be shared on the OBTC website and social media channels.

Erin Hildebrandt, playing Miss Framer, notes the unique joy of the production: “The beginning of the show is very fun and challenging with trying not to laugh when Lettice interacts with our various tourist characters.”

PERFORMANCE DETAILS

The production is led by Artistic Director Krista Schafer, who serves as the play's director and sound designer. Wendy Katz Hiller leads the production as Lettice Douffet, and is joined on stage by Kez Settle as the rigid Lotte Schoen, Erin Hildebrandt as Miss Framer, and Jonathan Jones as the lawyer Mr. Bardolph.

The world is brought to life by a professional creative team including stage manager Kiah Manthei, scenic designer and builder Amanda Bates, lighting designer Harley Miah, Costume Designer Cheryl Zemke, and prop designer Samantha Silva.

Open Book Theatre Company is located at 1621 West Road in Trenton, Michigan. The venue is fully accessible, and ticket prices range from $20 -$40 with discounts for students and seniors, as well as groups of ten or more.

Performance Schedule:

• Evening Shows (8:00 PM): May 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30
• Matinee Shows (2:00 PM): Sundays, May 10, 17, 24, 31
• Special Saturday Matinees (3:30 PM): May 23 & 30

Sunday matinees are followed by a “talk-back” conversation with the artists. Opening night will feature a gala celebration after the performance.

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