PLAYING WITH CANONS: NORTHANGER ABBEY: A Romantic Gothic Comedy
Play by: Lynn Marie Macy
Novel by Jane Austen
Staged Reading
v/t: The Treehouse Theatre
at 154 West 29th Street, NYC
Non-Union
Director: Emily Delbridge
Rehearsals: 3 3hr evening rehearsals in February
Performance: 6pm Wednesday, February 25, 2015 in the Treehouse Theatre at 154 West 29th Street, NYC
*AUDITIONS: Thursday Jan. 15, 7pm-8:45pm at Ripley-Grier Studios 520 8th Ave, room 10i.
Please send resume and headshot and any questions to emdelbridge@gmail.com or bring a hardcopy with you.
This stage adaptation by Lynn Marie Macy of Jane Austen’s first completed novel, Northanger Abbey, tells the classic coming of age story through two parallel narratives, one following Catherine’s own experience as she explores the tourist town of Bath, England in her first stay away from her provincial home, and one in which Catherine imagines herself as Emily St. Aubert, heroine of Ann Radcliffe’s quintessentially gothic novel, The Mysteries of Udolpho. Most actors will play parts from both the “real world” and the novel as she imagines it, which should be done in the style of a daytime soap opera.
**All roles require English accent unless otherwise indicated. All ethnicities welcome for all roles.
[CATHERINE MORLAND/CATHERINE AS EMILY ST. AUBERT]: 20s. CATHERINE is naïve, kindhearted, romantic. She encounters a steep learning curve upon arriving on the scene of Bath society. She imagines herself frequently as Emily in the Victorian novel The Mysteries of Udolpho, a heroine who braves evil uncles and threats of torture to avenge her murdered aunt and reunite with her knight in shining armor, only fainting a handful of times in the process. Only as she finishes the novel as our play comes to an end does Catherine realize she’d rather have her own life and whatever surprises it might bring than the melodrama of Udolpho.
[HENRY TILNEY/CHEVALIER VALANCOURT] 20s-30s HENRY is a clever, respectable, good-humored man whom Catherine falls for in Bath. The CHEVALIER VALANCOURT is a knight as if from a fairytale. Sickeningly chivalrous. Think Lancelot in “C’est moi” from the Camelot musical. Obvious French accent.
[GENERAL TILNEY/SIGNOR MONTONI] 40s-50s GENERAL TILNEY is a patriarch, not quite in-touch with the younger generation, but severe enough to keep everyone in line. He is a reasonable man, but will maintain his family’s honor at all costs. SIGNOR MONTONI is the villain of Udolpho. Nothing is below him – murdering cousins for castles, marital infidelity, marauding, torture, etc. Italian accent.
[JOHN THORPE/COUNT MORANO/GUARD/SUPERNATURAL VOICE] 20s-30s JOHN is boorish character and the unwitting source of several injurious rumors surrounding Catherine. COUNT MORANO is the suitor chosen for Emily by her greedy uncle, Montoni. He tries to “save” Emily from Montoni by taking her away, seeing himself as a better mate than whomever her uncle might sell her to next. He is chased out by Montoni in act 1, but he won’t go un-avenged. Italian accent. GUARD appears briefly in 2 scenes, no lines. SUPERNATURAL VOICE echoes and undermines Montoni’s threats to Emily.
[ISABELLA THORPE/SIGNORA LIVONA] 20s-30s ISABELLA is a skilled socialite whom Catherine meets in Bath and adores as a big sister until she discovers her new friend driven by unbecoming motives. SIGNORA LIVONA is Signor Montoni’s mistress. Italian accent.
[JAMES MORLAND/LUDOVICO/FREDERICK TILNEY] 20s-30s JAMES is Catherine’s brother, friend of John Thorpe. He is a sweetheart, but a bit of a follower, which is a dangerous thing to be in society. LUDOVICO is a servant of Montoni’s who aids Emily in escaping Udolpho. He’s a bit of a Mercutio – quick-witted and hot-blooded. Italian accent. FREDERICK TILNEY is General Tilney’s first son, brother to Henry and Eleanor. He’s handsome, a soldier. Northanger’s version of Sense and Sensibility’s Willoughby.
[ELEANOR TILNEY] 20s-30s Henry’s sister, quiet and sincere, with whom Catherine forms a lasting friendship.
[AMY/ANNETTE/MARY] 20s-40s – AMY is Catherine and the Allens’ maid in Bath. Amy has real-world experience, so to speak, and, as an extremely reasonable woman, is a valuable confidant for Catherine. Country English accent. ANNETTE is Mme. Cheron’s maid who attends Emily in Udolpho. She is faithful to Emily, but superstitious and excitable. Country English accent. MARY is the TIlney’s maid at Northanger Abbey. Busy, motherly. Irish accent.
[MR. MORLAND/ST. AUBERT/MR. ALLEN] 40s-60s MR. MORLAND is Catherine’s father. An even-tempered man, quietly indulgent of his daughter. ST. AUBERT is Emily’s father, whose long illness and death make her an orphan, starting the Udolpho drama off. He is circumspect and generous, but more verbose than Catherine’s father. MR. ALLEN is a neighbor of the Morlands’ who takes Catherine with him and his wife to Bath on holiday, as he has no children of his own. He is a patient man. He’s been married too long to argue.
[MRS. ALLEN/MADAME CHERON] late 30s-60s MRS. ALLEN is good-natured, but self-absorbed. Her greatest pleasure appears to be talking of her dresses and fabrics. MADAME CHERON is Emily’s aunt who takes charge of her after her father’s death, before marrying Signor Montoni. A petty, harsh woman. French accent.
[MRS. MORLAND/MRS. THORPE] late 30s-60s MRS MORLAND is Catherine’s devoted but practical mother. MRS. THORPE, mother of Isabella John, is an old school-friend of Mrs. Allen’s, whom they are thrilled to meet in the otherwise foreign city. She’s engrossed with her children and is a bit too much in love with them to see any faults.
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