Charley’s Aunt

Summary

1969 BBC production of Brandon Thomas’ farce Charley’s Aunt.

Theatre play

Charley’s Aunt by Brandon Thomas [more information]

Play synopsis

Charley and Jack love Amy and Kitty. Charley thinks he may miss his opportunity to ask for Amy’s hand, but he discovers that his aunt, from Brazil is coming for lunch. The plan is that the aunt can chaperone while the boys ask the girls to marry them. But Donna Lucia, the aunt, is late, and their friend, Lord Fancourt Babberley shows up in drag. He is convinced to pretend to be Donna Lucia, and an afternoon of mistaken identity ensues. Eventually, the real Donna Lucia steps in and graciously puts an end to the madness. All the lovers end up together and happy.

Production history

First performed at Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds in February 1892.

Date of transmission

Sunday 23 November 1969

Channel

BBC1

Production company

BBC

Credits

Playwright

Brandon Thomas

Additional details

Play tags

19th-century setting; farce; universities, as theme or setting

Audiovisual sources

Title

Charley’s Aunt (BBC, 1969)

Archive

BBC Information and Archives [more information]

Address

White City
London
UK

Telephone

+44 (0)20 8008 2288

Website

http://www.bbc.co.uk/informationandarchives/

Access

BBC Information and Archives is not open to the public.