Aila Boyd
aboyd@mainstreetnewspapers.com
The Salem Museum will host a staged reading of a long-forgotten 18th-century comedy, “The Candidates; or, The Humours of a Virginia Election,” at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21. The event is open to the public.
Written and set in the early 1770s on the eve of the American Revolution, the three-act farce was penned by Col. Robert Munford and centers on a Virginia House of Burgesses election. The play satirizes the corrupt campaigning culture of the era, offering pointed critiques of electioneering through witty dialogue and exaggerated characters.
The staged reading will mark the first time Munford’s comedy has been presented in the Roanoke Valley.
Salem Museum volunteer Steve Aaron will direct the production. Aaron, an actor and longtime Museum Ghost Walk performer, said the play’s themes remain relevant today.
“I am thrilled to be directing The Candidates,” Aaron said. “Its rich characters are relatable to us all, with issues that transcend the modern political and social climate and translate well to today’s audience. The Candidates reminds us that it’s good to laugh at ourselves.”
Aaron and the museum are seeking participants to read for multiple roles. No previous acting or theater experience is required. Those interested in reading a part or volunteering may contact the Salem Museum at 540-389-6760 or by email at info@SalemMuseum.org.
The Salem Museum is located in the historic 1845 Williams-Brown House at 801 E. Main St. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission and parking are free, with donations accepted. The entrance is located at the Oakey Field Complex sign across Main Street from the Berglund Ford service entrance.
More information is available at SalemMuseum.org.
