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Overview

Synopsis

Charley and Jack love Amy and Kitty. Amy is about to go away, and Charley thinks he may miss his opportunity to ask for her hand. Then he discovers that his aunt, a Brazilian woman he hardly knows, is coming for lunch. How fortuitous! Now the aunt can chaperone while the boys ask the girls to marry them. Naturally, things don't go as planned. Donna Lucia, the aunt, is late, and their friend, Lord Fancourt Babberley (Babbs) shows up in drag. He is convinced to pretend to be Donna Lucia, and a wild afternoon of mistaken identity, young love, old love, angry uncles, and one beautiful, exotic aunt ensues. In the end, just as it looks like Uncle Stephen is going to ruin everything, the real Donna Lucia steps in and graciously puts an end to the madness. All the lovers end up together and happy, except for Uncle Stephen, who was starting to fall for Babbs!

Show Information

Category
Play
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
3
First Produced
1892
Genres
Comedy, Farce
Settings
Period, Multiple Settings
Time & Place
Oxford University, England, 1890s
Cast Size
medium
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal For
College/University, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Medium Cast

Context


Plot


Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Jack Chesney

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Charley Wykeham

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Lord Fancourt "Babbs" Babberley

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Kitty Verdun

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Amy Spettigue

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Donna Lucia D'Alvarez

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Colonel Sir Francis Chesney

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Stephen Spettigue

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Brassett

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Ela Delahay

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Songs

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A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

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Videos

Quizzes

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Quote Analysis

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Guide Written By:

Alexandra Appleton

Alexandra Appleton

Writer, editor and theatre researcher