“Charley’s Aunt,” a classic farce full of mistaken identities and hilarious twists, opens at Albany Civic Theater on January 10 and continues through 25.
The play follows two Oxford students, Charley Wykeham and Jack Chesney, who need a chaperone to meet their love interests, Amy Spettigue and Kitty Verdun. They invite the ladies to meet Charley’s wealthy aunt from Brazil, “where the nuts come from.”
When Charley’s aunt, Donna Lucia d’Alvadorez, cancels her visit at the last minute, the she sends the boys into cataclysmic confusion. The duo convinces their Oxford undergrad friend, Lord Fancourt Babberley (“Babs”), to step in. Babs dresses as the aunt, donning a black satin skirt, bloomers and wig.
This leads to a whirlwind of chaos as the girls’ guardian and Jack’s father both become smitten with the “aunt” and compete for her attention. When the real aunt turns up, classic comic confusion ensues!
Performances are January 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 19(m), 23, 24, 25. Evening performances start at 7:30 pm. The matinee begins at 2:30 pm. The theater is located at 111 1st Ave. W in Historic Downtown Albany.
For more information, tickets or to volunteer, visit the Albany Civic Theater website at albanycivic.org
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