By Demi Rose
Charley’s Aunt by Brandon Thomas is a family-oriented show held in the historical Opera House, home of St. George Musical Theater in St. George, Utah. The farcical play comes to life as the set design is every inch a prim vision of the late-Victorian era and although the set is kempt and proper, it will also prove to be the façade. With the witty flair of Director: AJ Sullivan,clever laughter is captured from every audience member and the question remains. Who is Charley’s Aunt?
Charley’s Aunt starts with a frantic air since the never-before-seen-heiress Charley’s Aunt sent a letter regretting she would not be arriving as scheduled. Having courtship rules to follow, the bachelors: Jack Chesney (Abe Hegewald), Charley Wykeham (Tyson Chanticleer), and friend Lord Fancourt “Babbs” Babberley (Greg Belnap) find themselves in a predicament as they wait for love interests Kitty Verdun (Ginger Nelson) and Amy Spettigue (Ashlie Davenport) to arrive. Desirous for love and willing to do anything to win the ladies over, the bachelor’s throw Babbs into the cross-dressing role of Charley’s aunt, in cognito and in drag so he can be the needed chaperone. Thinking that Babbs is actually the heiress, Colonel Sir Francis (Justin Bruse) and Stephen Spettigue (Adam Myers) vie for the chance to marry the “heiress”. When the real heiress Donna Lucia D’Alvadorez (Cathy Ford) unexpectedly arrives with her charge, and love interest to Babbs, Ela Delahay (Lauren Miles) a slew of comedy and plot twists ensue that keep the audience laughing and captivated with what will happen next.
Belnap is a beacon of comedy with his irreverent “female” behavior with a simple fan in one hand and cigar in the other. Belnap’s interactions with the other bachelors blends into a beautiful roar of laughter from the audience and the show would not be so well groomed without the comedy finesse of each actor. Hegewald’s Jack is a very flamboyant character that enthralls the audience with his well-placed actions and reactions. Hegewald is very easy to connect with and the audience sympathizes with his frustrations when his proposal plans get interrupted and go awry. Hegewald also has a brotherly connection with Chanticleer’s Charley. The relationship between the two adds a human and endearing aspect to both of the characters and has the audience rooting for them in their pursuit of love.
The ever-faithful Butler, Brassett (Michael Forrest), plays a grandfather role to all of the bachelors with his support of their shenanigans and heartfelt desires. It would be too much to give the comedic role award to just one person as every cast member holds their own and entertained the audience. My main concern of the show is that some of the lines are delivered a little too quickly, which make the play’s storyline a little harder to follow and I hoped I hadn’t lost any funny bits. A well-deserved shout out to the many hands that play a technical part, along with Sullivan as director, (Suzan Ort) Stage Manager, (Emilie Whitney) Prop-Master, and (Deward Wilson) Lighting Director for creating a set that is simple, appropriate, and not distracting. The environment adds to the play and makes a believable setting. The costumes (Wendy Walton) also help to enhance the reality of the characters.
St. George Musical Theater’s Charley’s Aunt is part love story (count how many of them,) part laughs, part social commentary, and totally worth it. This show was sold out for the night of my attendance, and for good reason too. I would highly recommend going to see Charley’s Aunt while it is running from March 7 – April 6, 2019 while tickets are still available. I, for one, am planning on going again in the near future.
St. George Musical Theater presents Charley’s Aunt by Brandon Thomas
St. George Musical Theater, 212 N. Main Street, St George, UT 84770
March 7 – April 6, 2019 Monday, Thur – Sat 7:30 PM, matinee March 16, 2:00 PM
Tickets: $17-21
Contact: 435-628-8755
St. George Musical Theater Facebook Page
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