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Charley’s Aunt
5 November 2023 @ 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Written By: Adapted by Paul Thain from Brandon Thomas
Creative Team: Director Barry Hill OAM
bahill1@icloud.com or 0400 827 634
Jack Chesney and Charley Wykeham are undergraduates at Oxford University in love
with, respectively, Kitty Verdun and Amy Spettigue. Charley receives word that his
aunt, Donna Lucia d’Alvadorez, a rich widow from Brazil whom he has never met, is
coming to visit him. The boys invite Amy and Kitty to lunch to meet her, also
intending to declare their love to the girls. Fancourt Babberly (Babbs) uses Jack’s
room to try on his costume for an amateur play in which he is taking part.
Amy and Kitty arrive to meet Jack and Charley, but Donna Lucia has not arrived yet,
and so the girls leave to go shopping until she shows up. Annoyed, Jack orders
Charley to go to the railway station to wait for Donna Lucia. Jack soon receives an
unexpected visit from his father.
Charley receives a telegram saying that Donna Lucia will not be arriving for a few
days. The boys panic: the girls are coming, and they won’t stay without a chaperone.
Fortunately Babbs’s costume happens to be that of an old lady. Jack and Charley
introduce Babbs as Charley’s aunt.
This production uses a new version of the script that has been tightened to two acts and uses less prosaic language. It is one of the classic English farces and a lot of fun to perform.
Rehearsals are on Monday, Wednesday nights and most Sunday afternoons with the first few rehearsals in December then starting again after Xmas and New Year – probably 8 January. Ages are stage ages, not age of the actor.
The following link gives you an example of the play: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2H5Z-HrH-3s\
| Date: | 05/11/2023 |
| Time From – Time to: | 13:30 – 15:30 |
| Date: | 06/11/2023 |
| Time From – Time to: | 19:30 – 21:30 |
| Character Descriptions | |
| Role Name: | Jack Chesney |
| Gender: | Male |
| Stage Age: | |
| Role Information: | College student – early 20s. He laughs his way through life but he is truly a good person. He is a good student, self-confident, quick, alert, and must have drive as he sets the pace of the play. He is in love with Kitty Verdun. |
| Role Name: | Charles Wykeham |
| Gender: | Male |
| Stage Age: | |
| Role Information: | College student – late teens, or early 20s. A friend of Jack’s. Charming, and though shy, is not awkward. Rowing type and has the trophies to prove it. He is in love with Amy Spettigue. |
| Role Name: | Kitty Verdun |
| Gender: | Female |
| Stage Age: | |
| Role Information: | 20ish year old, being courted by Jack Chesney. She is an heiress and ward of Amy Spettigue’s uncle. She has strong opinions and can be cynical at times but always remains a lady. |
| Role Name: | Amy Spettigue |
| Gender: | Female |
| Stage Age: | |
| Role Information: | 20ish year old. Niece of Stephen Spettigue. Being courted by Charley Wykeham. Not as worldly or outspoken as Kitty, she is easily amazed and dazzled by special occasions and new surroundings. |
| Role Name: | Lord Fancourt Babberley |
| Gender: | Male |
| Stage Age: | |
| Role Information: | College student and friend of Jack and Charles- early 20s. A jolly, cheerful fellow. Would rather play cards and sip champagne than go to class but is not a cad or a habitual drinker. He is a jokester and teaser, but inside is a sweet, lovable man. Babbs (as he is called), impersonates Charley’s Aunt during most of the show. The important thing to remember is that “Babbs,” has never acted before or worn women’s clothes. A female impersonation is not called for. |
| Role Name: | Col. Sir Francis Chesney, Bart |
| Gender: | Male |
| Stage Age: | |
| Role Information: | Jack’s father – mature. In good body and health, smart in appearance and cheery in manner. He was formerly in the military but has taken over the family business. He is proud of his son and treats him thus. Un-married. |
| Role Name: | Stephen Spettigue |
| Gender: | Male |
| Stage Age: | |
| Role Information: | Uncle to Amy Spettigue and guardian of Kitty Verdun – mature – Solicitor at the University. Over protective of Kitty and Amy, in particular regarding Kitty’s inheritance. Appears gruff and aggressive at first but must be able to turn into a lover that woos Charley’s Aunt. |
| Role Name: | Brassett |
| Gender: | Male |
| Stage Age: | |
| Role Information: | Age open. A college manservant to Jack Chesney. Always polite but aware of the boys’ on-going shenanigans and hijinks. |
| Role Name: | Donna Lucia D’Alvadorez (Charley’s real aunt) |
| Gender: | Female |
| Stage Age: | |
| Role Information: | “Well preserved woman of middle age.” She saved Charley from being an orphan when he was a baby. She married a wealthy Brazilian man and has become his widow, leaving her a fortune. She has a keen sense of humor and is capable of taking command of any situation. She has a sense of humor and doesn’t shy away from having fun with it. |
| Role Name: | Ela Delahay |
| Gender: | Female |
| Stage Age: | |
| Role Information: | A young girl – late teens to early 20s. She is Donna Lucia’s niece. She also has a sense of humour and high spirits |
More Information at: Teatreeplayers.com
Contact: Barry Hill
bahill1@icloud.com
0400827834
