Based on a short story by Oscar Wilde, The Canterville Ghost, is a musical comedy set in England in 1887.
Sir Simon has haunted the manor house at Canterville Chase for three hundred years, successfully scaring off everyone who wanted to live there. He has done his job with theatricality and style. When a family of Victorian era Americans decides to move in, he expects it to be the same, but the Otis family has other plans. The parents are less frightened of him than they are inconvenienced by his chain-rattling and moaning. And their 10-year-old twins like nothing better than teasing him with their pranks. Poor Sir Simon is at his wit’s end. What can he do? It all comes to a surprising and touching end when the 14-year-old Otis daughter takes pity on him and restores peace to Canterville. Columbus Dispatch Entertainment Reporter George Myers, Jr.’s review observes “acting ghoulish and spooky full time is a ghastly, tiresome business after three centuries, but forlorn Simon de Canterville - still the ghostest with the mostest - shakes, rattles and rolls on.”
The Canterville Ghost
A Musical Comedy based on a story by Oscar Wilde
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Casting Requirements
2 M, 2 F and female teen featured role; 2 “twin” girls or boys about 10-12 years old; 1 “extra” (non-singing); Optional Cameo for a Cat
Orchestrations
16 Instrumental Part Books (with doubling, a 23 piece orchestra):
WOODWINDS: Fl 1 & 2; Ob 1 & 2; Bb Clar 1 & 2; Bsn 1 & 2
BRASS: B♭ Tpt 1 & 2; Hn in F 1 & 2; Trbn 1 & 2
STRINGS: Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Cello, Bass
KEYBOARD 1 & 2; PERCUSSION 1 & 2
Originally written for 23 piece orchestra but it works well for 16 instruments with slight modifications (instructions included)
Book, music, and lyrics by Darryl G. Bojanowski
Orchestrations by Seth Jordan Butler
Based on a short story by Oscar Wilde, The Canterville Ghost, is a musical comedy set in England in 1887.
Sir Simon has haunted the manor house at Canterville Chase for three hundred years, successfully scaring off everyone who wanted to live there. He has done his job with theatricality and style. When a family of Victorian era Americans decides to move in, he expects it to be the same, but the Otis family has other plans. The parents are less frightened of him than they are inconvenienced by his chain-rattling and moaning. And their 10-year-old twins like nothing better than teasing him with their pranks. Poor Sir Simon is at his wit’s end. What can he do? It all comes to a surprising and touching end when the 14-year-old Otis daughter takes pity on him and restores peace to Canterville. Columbus Dispatch Entertainment Reporter George Myers, Jr.’s review observes “acting ghoulish and spooky full time is a ghastly, tiresome business after three centuries, but forlorn Simon de Canterville - still the ghostest with the mostest - shakes, rattles and rolls on.”
Production History
A Premiere Playhouse, Columbus, OH, 10/22-31, 1993; and 10/14-30, 1994; School Performance 10/21/94