A comic gem from the early 1700s is coming to an outdoor stage in the Inland Northwest, as Inland Classical Theater mounts a production of Pierre de Marivaux’s “The Triumph of Love” at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture amphitheater in Spokane. The show opens Friday and runs through June 28.
Written by Marivaux and first performed in 1732, the play centers on Léonide, a princess of Sparta who ventures into a philosopher’s garden to pursue a forbidden love. The story blends wit, romance, and disguise in the manner of classical French theatrical tradition — a style that has kept the work alive for nearly three centuries, even if contemporary audiences are less familiar with it.
Inland Classical Theater Artistic Director Abby Burlingame acknowledged the title isn’t exactly a household name. She said she could count on one hand the number of people who recognized it when she brought it up. Still, she called the play well worth the effort to explore. “It’s something new, but it’s definitely worth adventuring out into a new text,” Burlingame said.
A Director Returns to a Favorite Play
At the helm of the production is director Scott Doughty, who has a personal history with the work — he staged the same play roughly two decades ago. His enthusiasm for returning to it is evident. “It’s funny, it’s romantic. The language is absolutely beautiful,” Doughty said of the Marivaux piece.
The production draws on the commedia dell’arte tradition, incorporating masks as part of the performers’ stage craft — a technique rooted in Italian theatrical convention that emphasizes stock character types, physical comedy, and stylized performance. The outdoor garden setting of the MAC amphitheater aligns naturally with the play’s own garden backdrop, giving the production a fitting physical context.
Abby Constable takes on the lead role of Léonide, the Spartan princess at the heart of the story. Steve Lloyd plays the philosopher Hermocrates, while Ali Aboud portrays Agis and Deborah Marlowe plays Leontine. Rounding out the cast are Jaz Vega, Jeffrey St. George, and Max Quintal. St. George also serves as Inland Classical Theater’s Executive Director.
Building on a Strong Recent Season
The Marivaux production follows Inland Classical Theater’s staging of “Mary Stuart,” the most recent show before this summer offering. The company has built a regional following for bringing classical and lesser-known works to the Inland Northwest, and this season’s choice continues that pattern of selecting material that challenges audiences without sacrificing accessibility.
Performing outdoors at the MAC amphitheater adds a seasonal dimension to the experience. Summer theater under open skies carries its own appeal for audiences in the Lewis-Clark Valley and broader Inland Northwest region, where warm evenings and cultural programming intersect during the summer months. Theatergoers in Lewiston and surrounding Nez Perce County looking for a cultural excursion have a strong option just across the state line through June 28.
For those interested in other upcoming community cultural events closer to home, the Lewiston Elks Lodge is hosting a Flag Day ceremony and Quilts of Valor tribute on June 12 — a fitting complement for audiences who appreciate civic and community tradition alongside the performing arts.
What Comes Next
“The Triumph of Love” continues at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture amphitheater in Spokane through June 28. Audiences are encouraged to check Inland Classical Theater’s official channels for showtimes, ticketing information, and any weather-related updates given the outdoor venue. For more statewide arts and community coverage across Idaho, visit Idaho News.