Following the momentum of its newly renovated space, The Cabrillo Playhouse continues its 2026 season with The Cottage, a fast paced romantic comedy by Sandy Rustin that opens February 27 and runs through March 22. Set in an English countryside retreat where secrets are revealed and doors rarely stay shut, The Cottage blends classic farce with modern wit, physical comedy, and an affectionate nod to Noël Coward.
At the center of the story is Sylvia, portrayed by Ashley Montgomery, who returns to Cabrillo after appearing as Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Montgomery brings both confidence and vulnerability to a woman convinced that her annual rendezvous will finally lead to a shared future. Her recent credits include The Addams Family Musical, Matilda the Musical, and the title role in Sylvia, for which she received the Hunter Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role.
Opposite her is Beau, played by Garrett Claud, making his return to the Cabrillo stage after a brief hiatus. Claud’s past roles include Richard Hannay in The 39 Steps, Nigel Bottom in Something Rotten!, and Demetrius in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. His Beau is charming, conflicted, and very much unprepared for what unfolds when expectations collide with reality.
When spouses unexpectedly arrive, the comedy escalates. Jack Cooper plays Clarke, Sylvia’s husband, returning to Cabrillo where audiences have seen him in Puffs, Much Ado About Nothing, and The Miracle Worker. A CSUF BFA Acting graduate, Cooper brings precision and comic timing to a role that thrives on rising tension and impeccable misunderstandings.
Clarke’s wife Marjorie is portrayed by Shelby Perlis, who makes her Cabrillo debut in this production. Perlis’ past credits include These Shining Lives, August: Osage County, and How I Learned to Drive. Her Marjorie is sharp, observant, and a steady counterbalance in a rapidly unraveling situation.
Adding fuel to the farce is Richard, played by Martin Balcaitis, who returns to Cabrillo after memorable turns in I Hate Hamlet and Sylvia. Balcaitis’ extensive comedy background includes roles in The Nerd, The Pink Panther Strikes Again, and The Play That Goes Wrong, experience that serves him well in a play built on timing, escalation, and surprise.
Completing the ensemble is Dierdre, portrayed by Zoe Nauman, who makes her Cabrillo debut. A UC Irvine Drama graduate with honors in Acting, Nauman has previously appeared with the New Swan Shakespeare Festival and the Prague Shakespeare Company. Her arrival brings the final piece of the puzzle, pushing the comedy to its joyful and inevitable conclusion.
Directed by Ben Green, an award winning actor and director recently seen on the Cabrillo stage in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Much Ado About Nothing, and Puffs, The Cottage takes full advantage of the theatre’s renewed energy and flexibility. Green, a resident artist at Chance Theater, guides this ensemble through a tightly choreographed comedy that celebrates timing, chemistry, and the sheer fun of live performance.
With its six person cast, relentless pace, and doors that never seem to stay closed, The Cottage offers audiences a smart, playful escape and a reminder that sometimes the best way forward begins behind closed doors. The Cottage runs February 27 through March 22 at The Cabrillo Playhouse.