Charlie's Aunt

 

Dramatis Personae:

Charlie Wickham (a senior, about to graduate from Yale)

Jack Chesney (Charlie's roommate- also a senior)

Brassard (a "houseman" to the men in this dormitory)

Lord Fancourt-Babberly AKA "Fanny Babbs" (English nobleman at Yale)

Amy Verdun (in love with Charlie)

Kitty (Amy's cousin, in love with Jack)

Stephen Spettigue (Amy and Kitty's uncle- in charge of their fortunes)

Colonel Chesney (Jack's father- recently retired Army officer)

Dona Lucia DalVadorez (American widow of a rich Brazilian and Charlie Wickham's aunt- and a long-lost paramour of Col. Chesney.

Miss Delahey (accompanying Lucia- She and Babbs fell in love sometime

before, but lost track of each other in the hubbub following the death of her father)

The Scene:

Yale College Spring 1903: Charlie and Jack want time with the girls so they may propose marriage. Charlie's Aunt is supposed to visit (Charlie has never met her before this) and they are taking the opportunity of the presence of an older lady to act as chaperone to spend time with their girls. She doesn't show up in time, the girls won't stay without a chaperone, so they press Babbs into service (he is dressed as an old lady as part of a 'theatrical.' Uncle Stephen, who disapproves the girl's choices for husbands, shows up. When he realizes he is in the presence of "Dona Lucia Dalvadorez- the Brazilian millionaire widow" (Babbs) his 'acquisitive lust' arises and the chase is on!

Supplemental Materials:

http://www.pacpub.com/new/enter/3-20-99/charleysaunt.html

http://www.siue.edu/PROJECT2000/indexes/scentitl/c.aunt.html