More unabashed hilarity with this hit from the late 19th century. Benny s dry approach makes for a less exaggerated old gal, which makes this the best version of the aunt ive seen. Charley s aunt, donna lucia dalvadorez, is coming to pay him a visit. Were primarily a familyrun business and several of u.
I have been asked to direct charleys aunt, and while it is one of the most popular plays of all time there simply arent any good recordings that i can find. Once the recordholder for the longest running play worldwide, charleys aunt has been translated and adapted numerous times into operas, movies, tv films. The catholic university of america speech and drama department presents charley s aunt, by brandon thomas, directed by joseph lewis, settings and lighting by james d. Charleys aunt at usi theatre university of southern indiana. It is a rollicking farce about undergraduates at oxford university, one of whom, jack benny, disguises himself as another s aunt from brazil where the nuts come from. A comedic favorite to this day with colleges and high schools, the early crossdressing farce first produced in 1892 broke all theatrical records wherever it played, and has become a recognized worldwide classic through countless stage revivals. Charleys aunt is a 1941 american historical comedy film directed by archie mayo. Open auditions for cast and crew for charleys aunt directed by jay thompson will be held on monday, january 4.
The play was first performed at the theatre royal, bury st edmunds in february 1892. Based in the uk and the usa, weve been serving the. An oxford undergraduate student, charley is in love with amy spettigue. Only he can sound as to the manner born as he exclaims by george. Jul, 2015 june 25 to october 31, 2015 a quiet luncheon turns into a corsetbusting masquerade when two college chums go to great lengths to woo a pair of charming young ladies, including persuading their. Charleys aunt is a farce in three acts written by brandon thomas.
By way of comparison, oscar wildes the importance of being earnest, which opened in january, 1896, had completed its run and closed before charleys aunt closed. Join stageagent today and unlock amazing theatre resources and. Johnson didnt hesitate, replying he wanted to bring back charleys aunt, which he acted in 25 years ago when he was at nowclosed northland international university in dunbar, wis. Brandon thomass giddy farce demolished all box office records, clocking up 1,466 performances between 1892 and 1896. Offering patterns in both pdf and printed format enables us to cover all preferences. Her presence as a chaperone will allow him and his friend jack to ask their respective true loves, amy and kitty, for their hands in marriage.
Charley s aunt characters breakdowns including full descriptions with standard casting requirements and expert analysis. A hugely popular, timelessly funny and delightful comedy. This first talkie version of the evergreen brandon thomas stage farce charleys aunt stars charlie ruggles, obviously having the time of his life in the leading role. This original 1893 edition can be performed royalty free. By brandon thomas directed by joseph discher performances begin october 24 im charley s aunt from brazil, where the nuts come from. Charleys aunt from brazilwhere the nuts come fromis expected to arrive. Once the recordholder for the longest running play worldwide, charleys aunt has been translated and adapted numerous times into operas, movies, tv films, and musical plays. Charleys aunt, donna lucia dalvadorez, is coming to pay him a visit. I suppose like most people, i first saw charleys aunt, brandon thomas centurieslong theatrical chestnut, back in high school.
Charleys aunt is a famous british play which for many years was the staple offering of every english high school drama class. When she doesnt, the boys have to do some quick thinking. Charley wyckham and jack chesney pressure fellow student fancourt babberly to pose as charley s brazilian aunt donna lucia. Once the recordholder for the longest running play worldwide, charley s aunt has been translated and adapted numerous times into operas, movies, tv films, and musical plays. Complications begin when fancourt, in drag, becomes. With jack benny, kay francis, james ellison, anne baxter. Customers are allowed to make a limited number of items from charlies aunt patterns to sell, as long as they read and digest the information on the legal page of this website, and stick to the guidelines. Jack chesneys father, colonel chesney is visiting his son at oxford. Amys uncle and kittys guardian, spettigue is a greedy and irritable solicitor, the villain of the story. Without the aunt as chaperone, charley and jack quickly realize the girls wont come to lunch. He even invests the line brazil, where the nuts come from with a sly menace. Charleys aunt the shakespeare theatre of new jersey. In its day, charleys aunt was the original west end blockbuster.
The jack benny program was first broadcast on the blue network on 2nd may 1932. Because the directions give a good idea of the onstage pandemonium one would see at a. Munson laces the script with topical references to propaganda films on the harmful effects of pot, vietnam and the draft as a thin pretext to get fancourt wearing a dress and various pop stars. Jack chesney and charley wykeham, two undergraduates at oxford university, are in lovejack with kitty verdun, ward of stephen spettigue the oxford solicitor, and charley with amy spettigue, the solicitors niece. The stage theaters production of charleys aunt is perfect for a spring night out. From the moment jack and charley enlist their friend to impersonate charleys aunt, the play moves from one unbelievably absurd situation to the next with. Gary peterson has now skillfully adapted this fantastic farce into a highly accessible, easytounderstand one act that retains all the humor while shortening the running time to under an hour.
Jul 16, 2018 tony johnson and will wood are longtime theaterworld friends. When the real aunt turns up, classic comic confusion ensues as fancourt babberley, posing as charleys aunt, tricks spettigue into agreeing to the marriage of his ward, the real aunt marries jacks father, jack gets miss verdun, and fanny babs regains the fortune he lost at gambling as well as the girl he loves. See all 2 formats and editions hide other formats and. Ive scrolled through a couple hundred youtube videos, and only one the charles grodin tv adaptation that wasnt true to the original script was even watchable. Charleys aunt written by brandon thomas bench theatre. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. Charley s aunt plot summary, character breakdowns, context and analysis, and performance video clips. Escripts escripts allow organizations to receive an emailed, printable pdf of the script within one business day without needing to prepay for scripts or royalties. Charley s aunt 1941 this time stars jack benny in drags and it s a match. Charleys aunt is a hilarious romp full of fun complications. Jack flings down his pen, rises and goes to fireplace.
The catholic university of america speech and drama department presents charleys aunt, by brandon thomas, directed by joseph lewis, settings and lighting by james d. Amy is about to go away, and charley thinks he may miss his opportunity to ask for her hand. The play was produced in berlin every christmas for many years. Charleys aunt jack benny program comedy old time radio. They invite the ladies to meet charleys wealthy aunt from brazil. By brandon thomas directed by joseph discher performances begin october 24 im charleys aunt from brazil, where the nuts come from.
Their purpose is to have a chaperone for their amorous visits with amy and kitty, niece and ward of crusty stephen spettigue. Its fun, colorful, and there are two intermissions so if youre inclined to have a glass of wine, theres ample opportunity. June 25 to october 31, 2015 a quiet luncheon turns into a corsetbusting masquerade when two college chums go to great lengths to woo a pair of charming young ladies, including persuading their. Guests are kay francis and archie mayo, the director of charlies aunt. So what could be more reasonable that getting a friend from the drama club to dress t synopsis.
Complications begin when fancourt, in drag, becomes the love object of old spettigue and sir francis chesney. This version of the popular comedy based on brandon thomass play features comedian jack benny as the lead. Tony johnson and will wood are longtime theaterworld friends. Charley wyckham and jack chesney pressure fellow student fancourt babberly to pose as charleys brazilian aunt donna lucia.
It was the third filmed version of the stage farce of the same name by brandon thomas. If youre going to drag an aunt into the business, we may as well wait till they all come back from scotland. Johnson didnt hesitate, replying he wanted to bring back charleys aunt, which he acted in 25 years ago when he was at nowclosed northland international. Charleys aunt is a hugely popular vintage farce that has been given a much needed makeover this new edition retains the original dialogue but replaces the dense and archaic victorian script with modern formatting and punctuation and clear and concise stage directions and its still royalty free. Then he discovers that his aunt, a brazilian woman he hardly knows, is coming for lunch. Jack chesney loves kitty verdun and charley loves miss amy spettigue. Charleys aunt was first produced at the royalty theatre, london, on december 21st, 1892, transferred to the globe theatre.
Brandon thomas a project gutenberg australia ebook ebook no 0571. An oxford undergraduate student and charleys friend, jack is in love with kitty verdun. This charming frump is introduced as charleys aunt. Charleys aunt is a hugely popular vintage farce that has been. A play paperback august 15, 2016 by brandon thomas author 4.
Its been enacted on stage countless times, all the way from small town theatre companies to broadway. Charleys rich aunt, donna lucia, is visiting from brazil and the timing couldnt be better. Charlies aunt shop about events gallery contact us all items bag pdf sewing patterns. Because the directions give a good idea of the onstage pandemonium one would see at a production of this farce, i. The millionaire aunt sends the boys into cataclysmic confusion when she cancels her trip. Then when playing babberley playing charley s aunt, wakeman achieves a heady mix of arch masculinity and fluttering femininity, calculating intent and throwaway casualness. Open auditions for cast and crew for charleys aunt directed by jay thompson will be held on. Librivox recording of charleys aunt by brandon thomas. Enter their rascally friend and fellow student babbs babberley, trying on an old ladies costume for the varsity play. Charleys aunt brandon hwmaa a free llbrlvox fullcast recording the girlfriends are coming to visit the chaps at college, but of course they cant stay unless there is a proper chaperone.
The problem is solved by drafting their oxford undergrad pal into bloomers and wig. They pretty much blackmail him into posing as charleys aunt. Open auditions for cast and crew for charley s aunt directed by jay thompson will be held on monday, january 4 and tuesday, january 5. Charley s aunt is a farce in three acts written by brandon thomas. Then when playing babberley playing charleys aunt, wakeman achieves a heady mix of arch masculinity and fluttering femininity, calculating intent and throwaway casualness. Charley s aunt is a famous british play which for many years was the staple offering of every english high school drama class.
He first falls for charleys aunts money, but then makes another discovery. This comedy will grace our stage for the first time in our 56year history. Brandon thomass charleys aunt is a play ive heard about oftenits gone down in classic theatre lore pretty much like the mousetrap. When the real aunt turns up, classic comic confusion ensues as fancourt babberley, posing as charley s aunt, tricks spettigue into agreeing to the marriage of his ward, the real aunt marries jack s father, jack gets miss verdun, and fanny babs regains the fortune he lost at gambling as well as the girl he loves. Looking for a good video recording of charleys aunt.
It is a rollicking farce about undergraduates at oxford university, one of whom, jack benny, disguises himself as anothers aunt from brazil where the nuts come from. Based in the uk and the usa, weve been serving the online theater community since the last century. When the real aunt turns up, classic comic confusion ensues as fancourt babberley, posing as charley s aunt, tricks spettigue into agreeing to the marriage of his ward, the real aunt marries jacks father, jack gets miss verdun, and fanny babs regains the fortune he lost at gambling as well as the girl he loves. It broke all historic records for plays of any kind, with an original london run of 1,466 performances. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. Now the aunt can chaperone while the boys ask the girls to marry them. However, neither knows quite how to express his love and his hopeful plans for the future to his girl. Charleys aunt may be 112 years old, but shes still got a great sense of humor, and shes settling in for a twoweek stay at university of southern indiana theatre april 1425. This first talkie version of the evergreen brandon thomas stage farce charley s aunt stars charlie ruggles, obviously having the time of his life in the leading role. Join stageagent today and unlock amazing theatre resources and opportunities.
Find movie and film cast and crew information for charleys aunt 1915 on allmovie. Guests are kay francis and archie mayo, the director of charlie s aunt. In 1890, two students at oxford force their rascally friend and fellow student to pose as an aunt from brazilwhere the nuts come from. Charley s aunt is a 1941 american historical comedy film directed by archie mayo. This play has been revived and adapted numerous times including as films, a broadway musical, and even an opera. Lewis, with james christy, chet carlin, marisha watassek. The winnipesaukee playhouse professional company presents charleys aunt. So what could be more reasonable that getting a friend from the drama club to dress t charley s aunt.
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