Charley’s Aunt
About the Play
Jack Chesney loves Kitty Verdun and Charley loves Miss Amy Spettigue. They invite the ladies to meet Charley’s wealthy aunt from Brazil, “where the nuts come from”. Cancelling her visit at the last minute, the millionaire aunt sends the boys into cataclysmic confusion. What do they do now? The problem is solved by drafting their feckless Oxford undergrad pal into a black satin skirt, bloomers and wig. As “Charley’s Aunt”, this charming frump is introduced to the ladies, to Jack’s father and to Stephen Spettigue, Amy’s guardian. 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.
Charley’s Aunt is produced by special arrangement with Concord Theatricals (Samuel French)
DIRECTOR’S NOTES
At the time this play was written (1892), my grandfather’s career as a Music Hall comedian was at its peak. I wonder if he ever saw, or acted in, Charley’s Aunt – it is just his style of comedy, and mine too! An “old chestnut” which is still popular over 100 years later. This has been one of NVCP’s most complex and challenging productions to date, and I thank everyone who has contributed. Sit back and enjoy the chaperoning antics of Charley’s Aunt! – Clive Sanders
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Welcome to North Vancouver Community Players production of Charley’s Aunt. What a wonderful way to lighten your spirits in the rainy, dreary days of February! We hope that you will leave Hendry Hall this evening with a smile on your face and a happy feeling! This production is dedicated to our dear friend Val Comba Johnson, who left us on January 12. Val was a long-time member of NVCP, an Honorary Life Member, an actor, a stage manager, a booth operator and an invaluable part of the Hendry Hall team. Living right across the road from the theatre, he could be called upon at any time to fill in a backstage gap in any production. We will miss his smiling face and long white Santa beard. – Fran Heaney
| Character | Played by |
| Jack Chesney | Kevin Ibbotson |
| Brassett | Andrew Massil |
| Charley Wykeham | Dayleigh Nelson |
| Lord Fancourt Babberley (“Babbs”) | Ian Duck |
| Sir Francis Chesney | Simon Drake |
| Kitty Verdun | Clare Froud |
| Amy Spettigue | Natasha Paulinyi |
| Stephen Spettigue | Tom Kavadias |
| Donna Lucia d’Alvadorez | Kim Gordon |
| Ela Delahay | Isabella Ciccone |
| Director | Clive Sanders |
| Author | Brandon Thomas |
| Production Managers | Liz Massil, and Sandy Branning |
| Stage Manager | Amanda Froud |
| Stage Manager Mentor | Kathleen Denkewalter |
| Set Designers | Clive Sanders, and Linda Sharp |
| Set Construction | Clive Sanders, Andrew Massil, Bob Martin, and Joe Van Belois |
| Set Painters | Linda Sharp, Robin Hilliard, and Teresa Bayley |
| Properties | Carolyn Coles, Solanges Santerre, Joan Vyner, and Meghan McNeight |
| Lighting Designer | Bill Howorth |
| Ladder Monkey | Michael Morabito |
| Sound Designer | Peter Zednik |
| Lighting and Sound Operator | Sandy Branning |
| Costumes | Karin Bews, Margaret Lee, Sharon Alexander, and Mitchell Mackay |
| Hair and Make-Up | Leslie Whittaker |
| Graphic Artist | Linda Sharp |
| Publicity and Program | Anne Marsh |
| Front-of-House Coordinator | Marie Brazier |
| Opening Night Catering/Decoration | Judith Barkley White, and Sue Worrow |
| Box Office | Kathleen Denkewalter |
| Photographer and Videographer | Paul Paterson |
| Original Performance Dates | February 3 to 18, 2017 |
| Venue | The Theatre at Hendry Hall, North Vancouver, BC |
| Production Length | 1 hour and 40 minutes |
| Production Style | English Farce |
| Special Thanks To | North Lonsdale United Church, Arts Club Props Department, Theatre West Van, Lynn and Chester Spink, David Taplin, Teresa and Bob Gerath, Valerie McBride, Rod and Brenda Carlson, Chris Duggan and Maxine Davis, Yvonne Henry, Pat Chetwynd |
| Clive Sanders | Director – Clive has directed 16 previous productions for NVCP, going back to 1977, and has been on stage and backstage with the group too many times to count. Recent directing credits are Having Hope At Home and Nurse Jane Goes To Hawaii. Appreciatively blessed with a wonderful cast and crew for Charley’s Aunt, he hopes you enjoy watching it as much as we have enjoyed putting it together. |
| Kevin Ibbotson | Jack Chesney – Kevin trained in his home town of Dublin. After many years of acting semi-professionally around Ireland and Canada he has found his way to NVCP. Kevin is extremely fond of people who don’t feel the need to speak to him after shows but, if you must speak to him, he asks you to limit conversation to the following topics: the number 7, the life and times of William Shatner, or tea. |
| Andrew Massil | Brassett – Andrew has appeared in a number of productions ranging through farce, drama, Shakespeare, panto and cabaret. He has also participated behind the scenes on many productions. Andrew is the proud recipient of the NVCP’s prestigious Dave Broadfoot Award for Comedy. He says that community theatre is a very rewarding “hobby” and encourages anyone with an interest to get involved. |
| Dayleigh Nelson | Charles Wykeham – In 2016 Dayleigh caved in to the overwhelming pressure of his gripping theatre addiction, appearing in The 39 Steps, Dancing at Lughnasa, The Lion in Winter and Suspended Storey. This is his sophomore appearance with NVCP, re-teaming with wonderful previous collaborators and talented first time co-conspirators. Prepare to witness him fret as Charley’s cabal unfolds its plot! |
| Ian Duck | Lord Fancourt Babberley “Babbs” – After two years studying in Vancouver, Ian Duck spent a third year at the University of Wales to complete his Bachelors Degree in Theatre. He is extremely excited to perform in Charley’s Aunt for you and hopes his family is proud even if, in the majority of the show, he is dressed as a woman. |
| Simon Drake | Sir Francis Chesney – Delighted to be treading Hendry Hall’s boards again instead of lighting design, some of Simon’s previous appearances here include Cat’s Cradle and The Butler Did It, and elsewhere include Fawlty Towers, Alan Ayckbourn’s Norman Conguests trilogy of plays, And Then There Were None and The Mousetrap at Theatre West Van, and One for the Road at Deep Cove Stage Society. |
| Clare Froud | Kitty Verdun – Clare most recently appeared in NVCP’s productions of The 39 Steps, Nurse Jane Goes to Hawaii and Snake in the Grass. Thanks to Clive, our gifted director, for the fun experience of bringing the 1890s to life with such a talented cast and hard-working backstage crew. Thank you all for supporting community theatre – enjoy the show! |
| Natasha Paulinyi | Amy Spettigue – Fresh off the boat from “poor old England”, Natasha has launched into her first role with NVCP. She was enticed to the stage from a young age, starring in many musical hits including Oliver, West Side Story, and My Fair Lady. She studied Musical Theatre at The BRIT School in London (UK) and later went on to graduate with a Bachelors in Acting for Stage and Media. She is very excited to be back on the stage performing alongside a wonderfully talented cast in her first “Canadian” production. |
| Tom Kavadias | Stephen Spettigue – Charley’s Aunt marks Tom’s second appearance at Hendry Hall having performed in Cat’s Cradle some years back. He has just finished performing in Arsenic and Old Lace and recently directed Fawlty Towers, both for Theatre West Van at the Kay Meek Centre. He has also performed on the Metro Theatre stage in numerous plays and with Jericho Arts Centre/United Players. He is happy to be back performing at Hendry Hall and hopes you enjoy his “Mr. Spettigue”. |
| Kim Gordon | Donna Lucia d’Alvadorez – Last seen as Mavis in The Murder Room, Kim is thrilled to be back treading the boards after a 4-year hiatus. Other NVCP credits include Death By Chocolate, Here on the Flight Path and Jack and the Jumping Beans. Kim holds an MA in Text and Performance from RADA/King’s College London and an acting diploma. She wishes to thank the love of her life for his support. |
| Isabella Ciccone | Ela Delahay – ESL teacher by day, actor by night … Isabella is happy to return to Hendry Hall, having performed in last season’s Enchanted April as Lady Caroline Bramble. Other productions include Go Back For Murder as Angela Warren, Towards Zero as Kay Strange, Sense and Sensibility as Fanny Dashwood, and The Importance of Being Earnest as Cecily Cardew. |