Overview
Synopsis
Lovingly ripped off from the Roman comedies of Plautus, Vice Versa is saucy, rip-roaring romp of a play. It depicts the downfall of General Braggadocio, a pompous windbag who has kidnapped the Grecian beauty, Voluptua, to keep as his concubine. However, he is unaware that Voluptua is truly in love with Valentin, who has followed her to Rome and moved in next door with the aged lawyer, Philoproximus. Valentin’s former servant, Dexter, is now also enslaved by Braggadocio and she has been responsible for arranging secret rendez-vous between the lovers. However, when another slave, Feclus, spots Voluptua with Valentin it looks like their game is up. But Dexter has finally had enough. She hatches a plan (involving a fake identical twin and a sixty year old pregnant prostitute) that will free Voluptua, reunite the loving couple, and earn herself an escape route from the vile General. Putting her plan into action, Dexter works on convincing Braggadocio that he is adored by another--Voluptua’s outrageous twin sister, Drusila--and persuades him to release Voluptua once and for all. Abandoned and left without servants or a woman to disgust, the bedraggled General consoles himself that at least he still has the best thing...himself!
Show Information
- Book
- Phil Porter
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 2017
- Genres
- Comedy, Farce
- Settings
- Period, Unit/Single Set
- Time & Place
- Ancient Rome
- Cast Size
- large
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Female Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Large Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Featured |
Either Gender |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
Songs
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
Scenes
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
Writer, editor and theatre researcher