"Tragedy of Tragedies," an uproarious satirical comedy from 18th-century England, will be presented by Coastal Carolina University Theater on Friday, Feb. 21 and Saturday, Feb. 22 at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday, Feb. 23 at 3 p.m. in Wheelwright Auditorium. Admission is $10; or $5 for students under the age of 18.

Written in 1730 by Henry Fielding, author of the irreverent "History of Tom Jones" and other novels, "Tragedy of Tragedies" ridicules the popular London literary scene of the day. Lifting lines from other plays, Fielding spoofs the stories of King Arthur and Tom Thumb and presents a pageant of outrageous characters including Queen Dollalolla, Princess Huncamunca and Lord Grizzle.

Directed by Coastal theater professor Sandi Shackelford, the production features a large student cast and elaborate period costumes designed by Melanie Schuessler of the Coastal faculty. The Coastal Recorder Society, led by music instructor Amy Tully, will provide a musical interlude.

To help audiences better understand the play and the society it mocks, Coastal's Department of Theater is hosting a special orientation session, "Eighteenth Century Drama and the Making of Henry Fielding's 'Tragedy of Tragedies,'" on Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 6 p.m. in the Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts Building, room 246. Coastal faculty members Dan Ennis, Melanie Schuessler and Tymberley Wittrig will lead the session, which is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact the Wheelwright Box Office at 349-2502.