Leading Ladies
In Ken Ludwig’s outrageous comedy Leading Ladies, two down-on-their-luck Shakespearean actors are performing on the Moose Lodge circuit in Amish country when they hear about an old lady who is about to die and leave her fortune to two long-lost nephews. After deciding to pass themselves off as the beloved relatives, the actors find out the heirs are not nephews, but nieces. Disguises, romantic entanglements, suspicions, and other complications abound.
KEN LUDWIG
DIRECTOR
GREG
MACPHERSON
PRODUCERS
JACK BOYAGIAN &
LESLEE ARGUE
January 16 - February 1, 2026
Best Western Plus Cobourg
$79 all included, dinner & show!
Important Show Info
5:30pm dinner, 7:30pm show – Jan 16, 17, 23, 24, 30, 31
5:00pm dinner, 7:00pm show – Jan 18, 25, Feb 1
Recommended for ages 12+.
“Leading Ladies” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com
2025-2026 Season Sponsors
Reviews
Kristin Andrews, Northumberland NewsOriginally published in Northumberland News
The Northumberland Players’ production of Leading Ladies, now playing at the Best Western in Cobourg, offers audiences a lively and engaging evening of classic farce.
Written by Ken Ludwig, produced by Leslee Argue and Jack Boyagian, and directed by Greg MacPherson, the play is built on mistaken identities, romantic confusion, and rapid costume changes, all of which require precision and pace to succeed.
The story follows two struggling English actors, Leo Clark (Jeremy Brans) and Jack Gable (Henry Hawkes), who are touring the American countryside performing Shakespeare to dwindling audiences. When they learn that Florence Snider (Claire Rowett), an elderly woman in York, Pennsylvania, is searching for her long-lost nieces in order to leave them her fortune, the two men see an opportunity for an easy payoff.
Disguising themselves as the missing nieces, the actors travel to York to claim the inheritance. Their plan quickly becomes complicated when they fall in love: Leo with the delightful Meg Snider (Robyn Hawthorne), and Jack with Meg’s sweet friend Audrey (Emily Wilkinson). As romantic feelings deepen, the deception becomes increasingly difficult to pull off.
The cast functions as a cohesive unit, with particularly strong commitment to character and comic timing. The “leading ladies” embrace the play’s gender-bending humour with confidence and charm, delivering animated and engaging performances.
Standout supporting roles include the comedic powerhouse Doctor “Doc” Myers (Grant Coward), along with Duncan Woolley (Jim McLaughlin) and Butch Myers (Ben Stuart), all of whom bring energetic performances that further complicate the “leading ladies’” plan to cash in on Florence Snider’s fortune.
Overall, Leading Ladies is a well-executed production that demonstrates the Northumberland Players’ ability to handle demanding comedic material. It offers a spirited night of theatre that will appeal to fans of classic farce and anyone looking for a lighthearted and entertaining outing.
Best Western Plus Cobourg
Location
The Best Western Plus Cobourg Inn & Convention Centre is located at the corner of Burnham/William St. and Elgin St.
Address
930 Burnham St.
Cobourg, ON
K9A 2X9
DINNER THEATRE
Dinner is served 2 hours prior to the start of the performance (5:30pm for 7:30pm shows; 5pm for 7pm shows). Enjoy a 3-course plated dinner, served at your table.