Wheaton Drama to bring British farce to the stage

By Ann PIccininni
Daily Herald Correspondent
Posted Friday, September 15, 2006

At this point, it’s safe to say “Charley’s Aunt” is a comedy with staying power. After all, theater companies have been presenting the play for more than 100 years.

“It’s a favorite of colleges and community theater groups,” said Charles A. Berglund, director of the Wheaton Drama production of the play, set to open today for a four-week run.

“It’s so much fun. It was written in 1892 and it’s still being done.”

Berglund said he slightly updated the Brandon Thomas play, setting it in the 1920s in an effort to keep it faithful to the original while retaining its believability.

The plot follows two boys at Oxford University who desperately want an unchaperoned visit with their sweethearts. Chaperoned visits were the norm when the play was written, Berglund added.

So, the college men enlist an actor friend to play the part of their elderly aunt, whose planned arrival as the students’ chaperone has been delayed.

The ensuing confusion, precipitated by deceit and mistaken identities at the core of the story, makes for ample opportunities for belly-laugh inducing comedy, Berglund said.

“It’s a bright farce. It moves fast and it’s very funny,” he said.

This is the second time Berglund, who is making his Wheaton Drama debut, has been involved with bringing “Charley’s Aunt” to audiences.

He said he directed the show years ago during his 30-year tenure as head of the speech arts department at Glenbard North High School.

“This is my first full-length director’s job for community theater since I retired,” said Berglund of Naperville, a veteran director of an estimated 125 shows.

Pete Lemongelli of Cicero plays Charley Wykeham, the Charley of the title.

“This is the first show I’ve gotten into with (Wheaton Drama). It’s a lot of fun. They welcome you as if you’re family. It’s that kind of company,” Lemongelli said.

Lemongelli said the show runs about 90 minutes to 2 hours. It involves a lot of physical comedy , he said, with actors frequently entering and exiting scenes, slamming doors and running around on stage.

“It’s a workout for the actors, at least it is for me. I run around a lot. It’s just a fun show to do. There’s so much humor and hi-jinks, yet there’s a lot of tenderness,” he added.

Wheaton resident Chris Richardson plays Lord Fancourt Babberley, the actor friend drafted to impersonate Charley’s aunt.

Not only does the role require him to summon a British accent, it also challenges him to cross gender lines.

“For me, the toughest part is doing a British accent as a young man and as an old lady,” he said.

Richardson is also coming to Wheaton Drama for the first time after a theater career that began at Glenbard West High School and continued during his college days at Shimer College near Waukegan.

He said he decided to get involved when he saw an audition notice posted downtown.

“This is my first show outside of school,” he said. “I just moved to downtown Wheaton.”

Richardson said he appreciates the show’s timeless quality.

“When done right, it’s a very funny show,” he said.

Tickets are $13 for Thursdays and $16 for weekends. For details, visit www.wheatondrama.org or call (630) 260-1820.