CAST OF CHARACTERS
KEY:
* = role will require you to be at almost every rehearsal
` = significant role who carries the show but might not have to be there as often
# = great role but may not be very time consuming
All ghosts need to be able to move well, as there might be some choreography to learn.
SYNOPSIS: An average American family acquires a historic old Canterville Mansion - complete with ghost! Sir Simon, the sporting spirit, succeeds in making life miserable, but the American family strikes back. Pam and Wendy, daughters of the new owners, attack the poor ghost with cans of hair spray and deodorant! The family takes drastic measures and calls in a psychic (who is anything but psychic) and turns the situation into a hilarious mess. Sir Simon feels this is hardly fair, so he enlists the aid of some friends – Martin the Maniac, Hester the Horrid, Lady Joan the Graveless, the Vampire Duchess, and other things that go bump in the night. Life is hectic and fantastically funny around the Canterville Mansion until the real solution to the problem of the galloping ghost is discovered. This show is family-friendly and appropriate for all ages.
THE AMERICAN FAMILY:
*MRS. LUCY OTIS – She and her husband travel to England and buy the Canterville Mansion. She is the mother of the twins and sometimes a bit melodramatic. She likes to have her say in everything and is the backbone of the Otis family.
*MR. HORACE OTIS – He and his wife buy the Canterville Mansion. He is a strong figure and does not waiver. He supports his wife and kids and thinks the ghosts are just a made-up story. He appreciates the adventure of living in the mansion.
*VIRGINIA - a young sensible girl who does not put up with the ghosts’ mantics. She saves the day in the end by befriending the ghost who lives in the Canterville mansion. She is very nice and polite but knows when to be stern to get the job done.
*PAM – one of the twin girls. She and her sister make up a duo of trouble-makers. They are full of energy (yet mischievous) and like to play tricks on the ghosts.
*WENDY - one of the twin girls. She and her sister make up a duo of trouble-makers. They are full of energy (yet mischievous) and like to play tricks on the ghosts.
GHOSTS:
*SIR SIMON – He is known as THE CANTERVILLE GHOST and spends his days haunting the Canterville mansion. He carries the show with his quick-witted humor and stage presence.
`MARTIN THE MANIAC – He is a ghost who is over the top and quite exuberant. Everything is a joke to him, and he is very silly and almost ADHD.
`HESTER THE HORRID – She is the typical old “wicked witch” type ghost. She should speak with a cackle in her voice and possess physical features that mirror being old (has a bad back, walks with a limp, etc.)
`LADY JOAN THE GRAVELESS – She is another ghost who arrives to help Sir Simon re-capture the Canterville Mansion. There is a chance she will wear rollerskates.
`VAMPIRE DUCHESS/DUKE (this role could be played by a boy or girl) – She/he is a stereotypical “vampire” who needs to speak with a “vampire accent” (keep voice low and interexchange consonants to a have a “v” or “w”)
ENGLISH STAFF OF THE HOUSE:
(these characters will speak with a British accent)
*MRS. UMNEY - She is THE housekeeper of the house and tries to keep everything in order despite the ghosts
*JENNIE – She is one of the housekeepers who is very afraid of the ghosts
`WEEDS – He is the gardener of the Canterville Mansion and warns the family about the ghosts. He is quite funny and his timing is impeccable. He should speak with an Irish accent.
#LADY CANTERVILLE – She is the former owner of the Canterville Mansion
GUESTS WHO ARRIVE AT THE MANSION:
`MADAM BALAKLAVA – She is crazy and over the top, as well as a “psychic” who really isn’t good at having psychic powers. She demands attention and over-acts. She thinks the show is all about her.
#VICAR – He is the Clergy of the village and works for an orphanage]
#LORD CECIL -He is Lady Canterville’s nephew and begins to fall in love with Virginia
#MRS. DAMPIER – she is the clergy’s wife who sometimes visits the mansion (she also may be part of the purple ladies hat clan)
#MRS. MIDWINTER – a friend of the family; think older “purple hat ladies”
#MRS. MUSGRAVE – a friend of the family; think older “purple hat ladies”
