Kind Hearts And Coronets
Derek Webb
Genre: Comedic Drama
Cast size: 9
Duration: Two Act
Adapted by Derek Webb | Roy Horniman | Comedic Drama |Full-length | 6m, 3f
Short synopsis
- Synopsis
- Characters
Archie Gascoyne Williams is a man on a mission. He comes from a long, illustrious (and very wealthy) family: that of the Gascoynes, through his mother. But she was disowned by the family because she married beneath her rank by marrying a travelling salesman in ladies underwear. Nevertheless, as Archie discovers, by the laws of heredity, he is in line to inherit the title of Earl Gascoyne, and thus the family fortunes, should the intervening Gascoynes die.
He decides to set about working his way up the family tree until he inherits that Gascoyne fortune by the simple expedient of murdering those members of the family that are in his way. And, besides having his eyes set on the Gascoyne title, he also has his eye on Sibella –the extrovert, sexy sister of Archie’s best friend Grahame Hallward, as well as Edith Gascoyne, and a nursery maid. Life’s never simple, is it?
This black comedy is adapted from the original novel by Roy Horniman, on which the classic 1949 Ealing comedy was based (which, incidentally, came 6th in the BFI list of ‘Best British Films Of The 20th Century’). The play requires strong, versatile, performances by the leads, but also has several interesting comic and cameo roles for other actors. The play doesn’t require scenery as such, but swift changes of furniture and props are essential. Part of the fun of the piece is that the audience will be aware of the doubling up of the main parts, but many minor parts can be played by different members of the cast.
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