Thursday, January 19, 2012

And so it begins!!!!!!!

It is official the HDCT will present:
Great Caesar's Ghost
by William D. Fisher

Our Cast & Crew
Director -- Kimberly Strong
Ast. Director -- Marsha Casey
Director's Aid --Kassidy Matson

The Characters:
Mrs. Penelope Maxwell -- Joy DeHaan
Mrs. Phoebe De Royster -- Marsha Casey

Johnson (Butler) -- Garreth Davis
Esther (Maid) -- Teri Drew
Hattie (Cook) -- Kimberly Strong

Helen Maxwell -- Kaitlyn Monchamp
Tommy Tucker -- Riley Gibson

Phineas Farthingale -- Steve Gibson
Aunt Polly Maxwell -- Sandy Cloud

Mahjah the Mystic -- Bill Ferguson

Deborah De Royster -- Jillian Sutherlin
Dick O'Donnell -- John Casey

Production Crew
Narrator -- Kassidy Matson
Music & Sound -- Lory Sutherlin
Set/Stage Crew -- Garrett Campbell & Adam Brown
Program & Flyer Designer - Heidi Sutherlin
Refreshments - Donna McCormack

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Spring Production - Casting Call

Great Caesar's Ghost
by William D. Fisher
     How would you like to have a pet ghost?  A nice tame one that sleeps in your closet, does your work, or frightens people out of their wits -- whichever you preferred?  Who wouldn't?
     That's why "Great Caesar's Ghost" is one of the funniest, most unusual farces ever written for the amateur stage.  This play is full of special effects and ghostly tricks, extremely colorful characters and a series of funny scenes, that will have audiences laughing themselves hoarse.
Cast of Characters
Penelope Maxwell... She loves fad, and especially her most recent one, the seances' of Mahjah the Mystic.  Exceeding scatter-brained, she is about fifty.  Her clothing is in good taste.  Her primary difficulty is keeping up with the affairs about her, both in her household and in her daughter's life. (15o lines)


Mrs. Phoebe De Royster... Also loves fads and seances' as given by Mahjah the Mystic.  About fifty, she is impressed with her own social position.  She is a trifle over-dressed for the best taste, wearing a few too many jewels and furs.  In other words, her appearance tends to be gaudy.  (90 lines)

Deborah De Royster... The apple of her mother's eye and the lemon of everyone's else.  Sixteen, she is dressed as if she were twelve by her dominating mother.  Her hair is in braids, and at first she wears make-up.  Her mouse-like appearance is heightened by heavy, dark-rimmed glasses.  But later, she emerges as a very pretty, cultured young lady with her hair done attractively, her glasses gone, make-up carefully applied, and clothing that befits her.  (52 lines)

Phineas Farthingale... An archaeologist fresh from the interior of South America.  Small, thin, and forty-odd, he has a sense of wit and good fun.  He is dressed in a sun helmet, khaki shirt, and khaki shorts.  Laced boots and heavy stockings complete is ensemble.  Or, if preferred, corduroy trousers may be tucked into the tops of his boots, and his hat may be a battered affair.  He is the master of "Great Caesar's Ghost," who has accompanied him everywhere since he left the land of Incas.  The children fondly call him Uncle Phineas. (98 lines)

Helen Maxwell... Penelope's daughter and the real manager of the house.  A pretty, well-dressed young lady of twenty, she has no sympathy with her mother's love of fads, and even less sympathy with her mother's dislike of Tommy Tucker, whom she likes very much.  (181 lines)

Tommy Tucker... Who is the object of Helen's affection, and vice-versa.  A good-looking young man of twenty-one, he has everything needed to win Helen's hand--excepting her mother's permission.  He wears stylish slacks and sport coat, or business suit.  Later he emerges as a rather odd-looking swami, in colorful bathrobe with a bright tie around the middle, and a towel wrapped as a turban around his head.  (96 lines)

Aunt Polly Maxwell... Penelope's sister-in-law and her direct opposite.  Calm, witty, unassuming, she is a good sport in every way.  About forty, she dresses well, but not expensively.  And she very definitely does not sympathize with Penelope's ultra interest in fads.  (92 lines)

Johnson... The Maxwell's befuddled butler.  He is an ideal servant, courteous and patient, wearing the dark clothes---a cutaway coat, if possible---of a butler.  His manners are ideal and his prim attitude is very effective, even though his stiff formality bends sometimes at the strange goings-on around the house.  He is about thirty-five.  (129 lines)

Esther... The new maid and already has her eye on Johnson.  Twenty-three, she is small and cute---quite a contrast to Johnson's formality.  But she knows men--and hence she knows him--at least well enough to know him better.  She is dressed in attractive black maid's uniform with dainty white apron and white, lacey headband.  (78 lines)

Mahjah the Mystic... An Oriental of dubious origin.  About thirty, he is dark and swarthy.  He wears a turban with a jeweled clip in front, a bright sash, and other Oriental effects, perhaps a robe.  His voice is deep and mysterious, and he speaks slowly and effectively--until surprised.  Then his true origin--definitely American--shows up in his speech.  His dark complexion is gained by make-up.  (51 lines)

Dick O'Donnell... A lad around the neighborhood.  For some reason he has "adopted" the Maxwells, though for friendship or the cook's ability to make cake, no one seems to know.  About fourteen, he wears a sloppy old sweater, unpressed trousers, scuffed shoes, and battered cap or hat.  (59 lines)

Hattie... The Maxwell's mistress of the kitchen Short-tempered, but an excellent cook, she is well worth her spells of temperament.  Forty, she is robust and healthy.  At all times she wears the neat, starched white dress, apron, and cap of a cook.  Indeed, she looks like a product of her own art.  (25 lines)

Great Caesar's Ghost... Though unseen is a very real character in the play.  He is the good-natured, humorous, protecting spirit of the Great Caesar, an Inca chieftain who Phineas Farthingale once befriended in his scientific travels.  He accompanies Phineas at all times, obeys every command, and seems somehow to have adopted his master's love for jokes.  yes, he is a very funny ghost.