Comedy
Showing all 18 results
A Bold Stroke for a Husband
“Plays, where the scene is placed in a foreign country, particularly when that country is Spain, have a license to present certain improbabilities to the audience, without incurring the danger of having them called such; and the authoress, by the skill with which she has used this dramatic permittance, … has formed a most interesting plot, and embellished it with lively, humorous, and affecting incident…. Here is contained no oblique insinuation, detrimental to the cause of morality?but entertainment and instruction unite, to make a pleasant exhibition at a theatre, or give an hour’s amusement in the closet.” (Mrs. Inchbald, 1831) Cast list: Don C?sar: Adrian Stephens Don Julio: Greg Giordano Don Carlos: Alan Mapstone Don Vincentio: ToddHW Don Garcia: Jim Locke Don Vasquez: James R. Hedrick Gasper: Jake Malizia Pedro: Wayne Cooke Servants: David Purdy Donna Olivia: Jenn Broda Donna Victoria: Sonia Donna Laura: WendyKatzHiller Minette: Matea Bracic Marcella: Anna Maria Sancha: Larry Wilson Inis: Lynette Caulkins Stage Directions: Joanna Michal Hoyt Editing: ToddHW
A Country Mouse
You could be forgiven upon reading that title, not to mention auditing the opening scene, for thinking that this is a play of a simple country girl fallen among aristocratic Victorian-era swingers in the big city. But this Country Mouse is anything but innocent. – Summary by Son of the Exiles Cast list: The Duke of St. Kitts (aged 65): Alan Mapstone Lord Robert Wyckham (aged 30): Greg Giordano John Bowlby, M.P. (aged 36): ToddHW The Hon. Archibald Vyse (aged 28): ksb013 Jephcot (a butler, aged 60): Wayne Cooke Servant: James R. Hedrick Lady Sylvia Bowlby (aged 26): Matea Bracic Violet Aynsley (aged 24): Jenn Broda Angela Muir (aged 18): TJ Burns Mrs. Cropper (aged 50): WendyKatzHiller Stage Directions: Michele Eaton Editing: Michele Eaton
Adelphi: or, The Brothers
“Micio and Demea are two brothers of dissimilar tempers. Demea is married, and lives a country life, while his brother remains single, and resides in Athens.” Things quickly get a bit messy with hushed-up debauchery, kidnapping/elopement/theft of a slave, general carousing, and marriage nuptials – the usual for the day perhaps, except that: “The Play concludes with a serious warning from Demea, who advises his relatives not to squander their means in riotous living; but, on the contrary, to bear admonition and to submit to restraint in a spirit of moderation and thankfulness.” – Summary by The Translator Cast list: Demea, Brother, aged Athenian: Max K?rlinge Micio, Brother, aged Athenian: Adam Bielka Hegio, an aged Athenian, kinsman of Sostrata: Ethan Hurst ?schinus, son of Demea, adopted by Micio: Tomas Peter Ctesipho, another son of Demea: Shashank Jakhmola Sannio, a Procurer: Son of the Exiles Geta, servant of Sostrata: ToddHW Parmeno, servant of Micio: Devorah Allen Syrus, servant of Micio: alanmapstone Dromo, servant of Micio: Devorah Allen Pamphila, a young woman beloved by ?schinus: Lydia Sostrata, a widow, mother of Pamphila: KHand Canthara, a Nurse: Eva Davis Stage Directions: Sonia Edited: ToddHW
Alice in Wonderland (Drama)
A dramatization of Lewis Carroll?s Alice?s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass for the stage. In this version, Alice goes through the looking glass and encounters a variety of strange and wonderful creatures from favorite scenes of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland the Through the Looking Glass. Including a conversation with the Red and White Queens, encounters with Humpty Dumpty, the Mock Turtle, the Cheshire Cat, and the Caterpillar, and of course everyone’s favorite Mad Tea Party. (Summary by ElleyKat) Stage Directions: Haili Lewis Carroll: Charlotte Brown Alice: Amanda Friday Red Queen: Shauna Kennett White Queen: Elizabeth Klett White Rabbit: ToddHW Humpty Dumpty: nomorejeffs Gryphon: Brett G. Hirsch Mock Turtle: GlassMask Mad Hatter: Elliot Gage March Hare: Charlotte Duckett Dormouse: Kimberly Krause Frog Footman: Larry Wilson Duchess: ElleyKat Cheshire Cat: WoollyBee Tweedle Dee: Charlotte Brown Tweedle Dum: Anastasiia Solokha King of Hearts: GlassMask Queen of Hearts: Eden Rea-Hedrick Knave of Hearts: gloriousjob Caterpillar: Etel Buss Two of Spades: Dave Harrell Five of Spades: Dave Harrell Seven of Spades: Dave Harrell Audio edited by ElleyKat and Kimberly Krause.
All’s Well That Ends Well
Despite its optimistic title, Shakespeare’s All’s Well That Ends Well has often been considered a “problem play.” Ostensibly a comedy, the play also has fairy tale elements, as it focuses on Helena, a virtuous orphan, who loves Bertram, the haughty son of her protectress, the Countess of Rousillon. When Bertram, desperate for adventure, leaves Rousillon to serve in the King’s army, Helena pursues him. (Summary by Elizabeth Klett) Cast: Bertram: David Nicol Clown: Denny Sayers Countess of Rousillon: Ruth Golding Diana: Arielle Lipshaw Duke of Florence: Robert Fletcher First Gentleman: Brett W. Downey First Lord: Bellona Times First Soldier: om123 Fourth Lord/Steward: Skythrock Helena: Elizabeth Klett King of France: Andy Minter Lafeu: Martin Geeson Mariana: Maria Therese Parolles: mb Second Gentleman: Martyn Oughton Second Lord: David Goldfarb Second Soldier: Vicente Costa Filho Page/Servant: Lucy Perry Widow: Musicalheart1 Narrator: Availle Audio edited by: mb Proof listening: Maria Therese, Elizabeth Klett
All’s Well That Ends Well (version 2)
A fairy tale with real life consequences, All’s Well That Ends Well concerns a poor physician’s daughter who goes to Paris to heal the King and asks of him a husband; not himself, but the Count Rousillon, in whose house her good father had lived. He weds her but does not bed her, flees to the wars where he is followed by his wife in a pilgrimage of which he is the object. How she uses his lust for a virtuous young woman to trick him into bedding her and giving her a child is but the real life drama to which, or so it would appear, a good woman is forced to commit herself to get herself a husband. When this blows up in the King’s face he probably wishes he. or various of these young deceivers, he’s not sure which, were dead. And they al live Happily Ever After. In memory of my friends Henk and Rinie, for whom I read this piece. All’s Well That Ends Well. In love and peace. Summary by Tony Addison
Amends for Ladies
Amends for Ladies falls within the genre of Jacobean city comedy. Three women debate which has the better lot: a maid, a wife, or a widow. Lady Honour, the maid, is loved by her servant, Ingen, and disguises herself as a boy to become servant to him. Lady Perfect, the wife, is suspected by her husband, Love-all, of infidelity; Love-all tries to trap his wife by having his devious friend, Subtle, seduce her. A young citizen, Bold, disguises himself as an old woman to enter into the service of the widow, Lady Bright, in the hopes of gaining access to her bed. Amends for Ladies also features a duel-gone-wrong, bawdy jokes aplenty, and a guest appearance by the “Roaring Girl” herself, Moll Cutpurse. – Summary by Rob Board Cast Narrator: KHand Bold: Rob Marland Lord Feesimple: Tomas Peter Lady Bright: Sonia Welltried: ToddHW Lord Proudly: SonOfTheExiles Ingen/Count: Larry Wilson Lady Honour: Leanne Yau Subtle: alanmapstone Lady Perfect: TJ Burns Love-all: MajorToast Grace: Eva Davis Frank: Chuck Williamson Seldom: Nemo Moll Cutpurse/Tearchaps: April6090 Page: Stoofy Drawer: ScarlettG Servant/Bots: Foon Whorebang: Carolin Spillblood: Sandra Schmit Sergeant: lorda Priest: Beth Thomas Edited by: Rob Marland
Amphitryon
“The history of Amphitryon and Alcmene, or rather the myth of the birth of Hercules, is certainly very old, and is to be found in the literature of different nations.” Under Moliere’s touch, it becomes “One of the most charming and natural comedies composed in French verse…. Sprightliness and vivacity abound in this comedy….” – Summary by Translator Henri Van Laun Cast list: Mercury, in the form of Sosia: Nemo Night: Eva Davis Jupiter, in the form of Amphitryon: Larry Wilson Mercury, in the form of Sosia: Nemo Amphitryon, general of the Thebans: Tomas Peter Argatiphontidas, Theban Captain: Jim Locke Naucrates, Theban Captain: alanmapstone Polidas, Theban Captain: Adrian Stephens Pausicles, Theban Captain: Leanne Yau Sosia, Amphitryon’s servant: ToddHW Alcmene, Amphitryon’s wife: Availle Cleanthis, Alcmene’s maid, Sosia’s wife: Sonia Stage Directions: Foon Edited by: ToddHW
Ann
Edward Hargraves, a young author, is encouraged by his mother and friend, Billy, to marry a woman in order to understand the fairer sex better and thereby characterize them better in his next book. While he attempts to follow their advice and marry Evangeline, a pleasant but rather uninteresting woman, a daring American reporter has set her eyes on him. She will stop at nothing to interview him and attract his attention. – Summary by Elsie Selwyn Cast List: Rev. Samuel Hargraves: ToddHW Edward Hargraves: Campbell Schelp William ?Billy? Lloyd: RHelfmann Mrs. Hargraves: Anita Sloma-Martinez Evangeline Lipscomb: thestorygirl Ann Anning: EmmaHatton Stage Directions: Elsie Selwyn Edited by: linny
Creditors
Creditors is a tragicomedy by August Strindberg that plumbs the depths of the twisted triangular relationship between Tekla, her husband Adolph, and her ex-husband Gustav. (Summary by Elizabeth Klett) Cast: Tekla: Elizabeth Klett Adolph: mb Gustav: Bruce Pirie Narrator: Diana Majlinger Audio edited by: Elizabeth Klett
Fanny and the Servant Problem
“It is so sad when relations don’t get on together.” “Sadder still when they think they’ve got a right to trample on you, just because you happen to be an orphan and – I don’t want to talk about my relations. I want to forget them. I stood them for nearly six months. I don’t want to be reminded of them. I want to forget that they ever existed.” She is not going to have her wish. Oh, no, not at all. A comedy. – Summary by ToddHW Cast list: Fanny: Devorah Allen Vernon Wetherell, Lord Bantock (Her husband): A D Latheron Martin Bennet (Her Butler): Greg Giordano Susannah Bennet (Her Housekeeper): TriciaG Jane Bennet (Her Maid): Michele Eaton Ernest Bennet (Her Second Footman): Adrian Stephens Honoria Bennet (Her Still-room Maid): Availle The Elder of the Misses Wetherell (Her Aunts by Marriage): mleigh The Younger of the Misses Wetherell (Her Aunts by Marriage): Jenn Broda Dr. Freemantle (Her Local Medical Man): Alan Mapstone Our Empire England (One of Her Quondam Companions): qthemusic123 Scotland (One of Her Quondam Companions): Sonia Ireland (One of Her Quondam Companions): Joanna Michal Hoyt Wales (One of Her Quondam Companions): April 6090 Canada (One of Her Quondam Companions): Tchaikovsky Africa (One of Her Quondam Companions): PaulHW Straits Settlements (One of Her Quondam Companions): Sandra Schmit George P. Newte (Her Former Business Manager): ToddHW Stage Directions: MichaelMaggs Editing: ToddHW
The Admirable Bashville
The Admirable Bashville is a product of the British law of copyright. As that law stands at present, the first person who patches up a stage version of a novel, however worthless and absurd that version may be, and has it read by himself and a few confederates to another confederate who has paid for admission in a hall licensed for theatrical performances, secures the stage rights of that novel, even as against the author himself; and the author must buy him out before he can touch his own work for the purposes of the stage…As a good Socialist I do not at all object to the limitation of my right of property in my own works to a comparatively brief period, followed by complete Communism: in fact, I cannot see why the same salutary limitation should not be applied to all property rights whatsoever; but a system which enables any alert sharper to acquire property rights in my stories as against myself and the rest of the community would, it seems to me, justify a rebellion if authors were numerous and warlike enough to make one.” (Summary by G.B. Shaw, from the Preface) Cast: Lydia/Narrator: Arielle Lipshaw Cashel Byron: Algy Pug Bob Mellish: Anthony Lucian: mb Bashville: Matthew Reece A Newsboy/Master of the Revels: TriciaG Cetewayo: Peter Bishop Lord Worthington: Alan Paradise/Adelaide Gisborne: Elizabeth Klett Audio edited by Arielle Lipshaw
The Amazons: A Farcical Romance
This 1895 farce inspired by the outlandish idea of women wearing pants, centers around the predicament of the three daughters of the eccentric Marchioness of Castlejordan, who determined to have sons, raised them like boys. She encouraged them to dress and act like boys at home, yet dress like ladies when out. As the girls come of age, they are conflicted. They want to please mother by acting as her sons, but, suddenly smitten with three gentlemen, they are compelled to grow up and be ladies. When their suitors secretly come to woo, they aren?t sure what to do??and what will mother do if she finds out? (Summary by A.L. Gramour) Cast Lady Castlejordan: Algy Pug Noeline: Elizabeth Klett Thomasin: Arielle Lipshaw Wilhelmina: Amy Gramour Reverend Roger Minchin/Andre de Grival: Lars Rolander Barrington Litterly: John Fricker Galfred Tweenwayes: Peter Bishop Sergeant Shuter: Liberty Stump Fitton/Youat/Orts: Levi Throckmorton Narrator: Malane Audio edited by Amy Gramour
The Country Wife
One of the most notorious Restoration comedies in existence, William Wycherley?s The Country Wife is a lively and riotous exploration of courtly and city life in the seventeenth century, which was rife with unremitting sexual intrigue and conquest. For the basis of his plot, Wycherley here borrows heavily from the work of Moli?re, but abandons the French master?s unity and economy by introducing several interlocking storylines and characters, all of them clamoring for attention amidst Wycherley?s hard-hitting colloquial dialogue and double entendres. The main plot follows the clever town rake Horner, who feigns impotence in order to seduce women of quality and cuckold their unwitting husbands. One woman who takes interest in him is Margery, a seemingly naive country girl married to the pathologically jealous Pinchwife. Her desire to pursue an illicit affair with Horner yields a multitude of complications and misunderstandings, many of which are left scandalously unresolved by the time the final line is spoken. With startlingly frank explorations of gender dynamics, marital structures, female autonomy, misogyny, and seventeenth-century societal obligations, as well as an infamous ?china scene? positively dripping with innuendo, The Country Wife remains a classic of its genre that continues to invite fresh and exciting interpretations with each new performance. – Summary by Tomas Peter Horner: Tomas Peter Harcourt: Son of the Exiles Dorilant: MajorToast Pinchwife: Scotty Smith Sparkish: ToddHW Sir Jasper Fidget: Nemo Boy: Melanie Jensen Quack: Alan Mapstone Margery Pinchwife: Availle Alithea, sister of Pinchwife: Leanne Yau Lady Fidget / Bookseller: Beth Thomas Dainty Fidget, sister of Sir Jasper: Foon Mrs. Squeamish: Sonia Old Lady Squeamish: Eva Davis Lucy, Alithea’s maid: TJ Burns Narrator: Campbell Schelp Editor: Tomas Peter
The Fairy Lady
Don Manuel and Cosmo are visiting town to stay with Don Manuel’s friend Don John de Toledo for the young Prince’s christening, when suddenly a a veiled lady begs for their aid and protection. “My honour and my life are forfeit if I am overtaken or discovered by the person that comes yonder in pursuit of me.” And so the intrigue of this farce begins…. – Summary by ToddHW Cast list: Don Manuel Enriquez: Adrian Stephens Don John de Toledo: Greg Giordano Don Lewis de Toledo, his brother: ToddHW Cosmo, Don Manuel’s servant: Jake Malizia Rodrigo, Don Lewis’s servant: Alan Mapstone Donna Angela, sister of Don John and Don Lewis: Sonia Donna Beatrice: Availle Isabella, Donna Angela’s maid: WendyKatzHiller One of the Ladies: Sanarik Moirangthem Stage Directions: James R. Hedrick Editing: ToddHW