My casting decisions

Posted by The Mysterious H.C. on March 05, 1998 at 19:38:34:

In response to HC!, written by Barbara on March 04, 1998 at 23:51:14

Here are my old messages to AUSTEN-L:

Date:         Sun, 11 Jun 1995 00:05:52 -0500
Sender:       Jane Austen discussion list 
From:         Henry Churchyard 
Subject:      Das Liebeskind
 
I don't know if _Lovers' Vows_ is so particularly morally objectionable
or not (compared to some of the amoral Restoration stuff, it's actually
fairly tame) -- but what struck me is that it's such utter piffle -- the
functional equivalent of a throwaway half hour of forgettable TV drama.
 
(Actually, the character of The Cottager's Wife, so utterly despised
by the Mansfield company, is the only one with a few clever lines.)
 
I've only read a few of the plays that Tom Bertram and crew rejected,
but all the ones I have read seem to me to be far and away more worthy.
_The_Rivals_ by Sheridan is one of my favorites -- and it even has sober
and sentimental parts (Julia and Faulkland) appropriate for the lovers
of sentiment and tragedy, and a ranting part (Anthony Absolute) for
Mr. Yates.
 
I think that when Jane Austen has some of her characters prefer _Lovers'
Vows_ to _The Rivals_, she makes a pretty powerful statement about them
right there.
--
         --Henry Churchyard     churchyh@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu
 
Date:         Sun, 11 Jun 1995 00:30:21 -0500
Sender:       Jane Austen discussion list 
From:         Henry Churchyard 
Subject:      Re: Das Liebeskind
 
Hey, I'm getting into this idea of casting the Mansfielders in _The_Rivals_.
Here's my proposed lineup:
 
Faulkland............Henry Crawford
Julia Melville.......Julia Bertram
Lydia Languish.......Maria Bertram
Lucy, the maid.......Mary Crawford
Bob Acres............Mr. Rushworth
Capt. Absolute.......Tom Bertram
Anthony Absolute and
 Lucius O'Trigger....Mr. Yates
 
Anthony Absolute and Lucius O'Trigger never appear together until the
grand finale (I think), and that could be finessed.
 
Hmm, that leaves Fag the valet (maybe Henry Crawford could double),
various more minor servant characters, and Mrs. Malaprop.  Maybe Mrs.
Norris could take on Mrs. Malaprop??
--
         --Henry Churchyard     churchyh@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu

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