CHARLEY'S AUNT
Directed by Sean Duxbury

WINNER OF A NODA AWARD :
Best Supporting Actor - Joe Simmons as Sir Francis Chesney


CAST

Jack Chesney - Rob Toner
Charley Wykeham - Alan Levesley
Lord Babberly - Oliver Franklin
Sir Francis Chesney - Joe Simmons
Stephen Spettigue - Barry Callander
Brasset - David Hodson-Maughan
Kitty Verdun - Cassandra Moon
Amy Spettigue - Rachael Hope
Donna D'Alvadorez - Judith Holt
Ela Delahay - Judith Colley


Classic farce set in an Oxford college in 1892 where Charles Wykeham uses the imminent arrival of his Brazilian aunt Donna Lucia as an opportunity to invite two young ladies to his rooms for tea. But when Donna Lucia's visit is postponed and they're therefore without a chaperon, rather than cancel the tea-party, Charles and Jack persuade fellow student Babbs to impersonate the aunt.
Babbs has great fun, and particularly enjoys being kissed and caressed by the girls as well as sharing their confidences, and he's reluctant to abandon his role. But then the real Donna Lucia turns up...

Chorley Guardian review by Vanessa Taylor. 22 February 2007
Maybe it was first night nerves, or because there were very few people in the audience to create the atmosphere, but the comedy farce Charley's Aunt just didn't quite sparkle when it opened at Chorley Little Theatre on Monday night.
That said though, there were some excellent performances - notably Oliver Franklin as Lord Fancourt Babberly who stands in as Charley's Aunt when the real one fails to turn up for a planned lunch. Oliver stole the show and kept the pace and humour going.
Alan Levesley as the bumbling and blustering Charley was also good, but Rob Toner who played the love-struck Jack could do to brush up on his lines, and his diction could be clearer as it was difficult to hear what he was saying, particularly at the start. It is possible it was just the first night nerves kicking in because he improved greatly as the show went on.
Cassandra Moon as Kitty, Joe Simmons as Sir Francis Chesney, David Hodson-Maughan as the long-suffering butler Brasset, Judith Holt as Donna Lucia D'Alvadorez and Barry Callander as Stephen Spettigue played their parts exceptionally well and were well supported by Rachael Hope as Amy Spettigue and Judith Colley as Ela Delahay.
The cast used the stage well and the scene in the garden when everyone is looking for everyone else was brilliantly done - it was pacy, the timing was excellent and it was funny without going over the top.
The costumes were marvellous and the quality of the sets were commented on by an appreciative audience.
Director Sean Duxbury and his assistant Jessica Shields picked their cast well and have obviously worked hard to inject pace and life into this timeless classic - it deserves to be heard.

NODA Review by Colin Magenty

This old farce is still funny today although it is a wordy play and the words must be heard. Unfortunately Rob Toner, who played Jack Chesney, sets the scene, but rushed his lines somewhat so it was difficult to follow him. Alan Levesley played Charley. When Oliver Franklin entered as Babberly things went much better. His was an extremely good performance as was that of Sir Francis played by the experienced Joe Simmons.
The role of Spettigue was in the safe hands of Barry Callander and he did well and so did David Hodson Maughan as the Butler, Brasset.
The three young ladies who finally fmd the men they are after were played by Rachael (Amy), Judith Colley (Ela), and a super performance from the talented Cassandra Moon who played the role of Kitty. Judith Holt, normally in the pit for the theatre productions, proved she can also hold her own on stage and gave an endearing performance as Donna Lucia.
My only other quibble was that both Jack’s and Charlie's suits looked too modern otherwise it was an entertaining production.
The scenery was well done with an excellent third act set.