‘Charley’s Aunt’ aims for funny bone

Mounds of red hair and taffeta does not a lady make.

But it makes for laughs galore.

Bremerton High School Drama presents the farce, “Charley’s Aunt,” a comedy of he as a her and mistaken identity wrapped in the late 1890s. As the play reminds the modern audience, these were the days before women could vote. During those times, a young woman’s reputation would be ruined if she was not chaperoned when she was with a man.

The production opens at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Bremerton Performing Arts Center 1500 13th St.

The basic premise revolves around two love stories. Jack played by Matt Melanson, is in love with Kitty, Brandy Thompson. Charley, Kyle Boynton, is in love with Amy played by Mallory Gleason. Jack and Charley want to propose to the girls before they go on vacation.

When Charley learns that a millionaire aunt he has never met will be in town, they invite the girls to lunch to meet her. At the last minute, Charley’s aunt telegraphs to say that she is delayed. In desperation, they talk their friend Lord Fancourt Babberly, played by Mitch Trump, into pretending to be Charley’s Aunt. He takes full advantage of Kitty and Amy’s hugs and kisses while fielding the attention of two men interested in the aunt’s fortune. When Charley’s real aunt shows up, the comedy starts.

“This is a chance for people to come and laugh their cares away,” said Sheryl Cole, Bremerton High School drama coach.

Trump, a sophomore who plays the impostor aunt got a much bigger and demanding role than he bargained for.

“At first it was very uncomfortable. My friends picked on me,” Trump said of playing a man pretending to be a woman. But after a while he’s adjusted to the part.

Other characters include: Ela, Amaris Blake; Donna Lucia D’Al-vadorez, the real aunt, Kenadi Lewis; Stephen Spettigue, Chris Dolan; Brasset the butler, Austin Newell; Sir Francis, Taylor Mantze. Also appearing in the cast are Jill Iverson, Abby Morton, Briana Osborne, Elizabeth Wilder, Felicia Grives, Glen Milligan, Heidi Weick, Mary Jines, Nicole Eckert, Rachel Cummings, Rhiannon Smith, and Zach Green.

The run continues Nov. 12-13 and Nov. 18-20. Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $6. ASB, children under 12, and senior citizens are $5. Info: call (360) 478-6033.

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