CHARACTERS
(in order of appearance)
NELLIE MELBA, late 20s, “the voice of the [19th] century", who rose from humble origins in Australia to become the world's first superstar opera diva; Australian accent.
MADAME MATHILDE MARCHESI (pronounced Mar-KAY’zee) late 60s, the greatest bel canto singing teacher of the 19th century. She is German, married to an Italian aristocrat, living in Paris, fluent in six languages; German accent.
CHARLIE ARMSTRONG (KANGAROO CHARLIE), late 20s/early30s, husband of NELLIE MELBA. Youngest child of an Irish baron, he is a daredevil drover and boxer who thinks with his fists; Australian accent.
JONESY THE MAILMAN, any age, a character; Australian accent.
MR. DAVID MITCHELL, late 50s, NELLIE'S father, a man of gravity; Scottish accent.
ALPHONSE THE FOOTMAN, any age, haughty servant of MADAME MARCHESI; French accent.
SALVATORE, late 60s, husband of MADAME MARCHESI, an Italian aristocrat-turned-singer; Italian accent.
PHILIPPE, late 20s, duc d’Orleans, heir to the abolished French throne, a very handsome man who could pass as CHARLIE’S brother; French accent.
GEORGE, age 8-10, son of NELLIE and CHARLIE, speaks French and English (can be played by an adult female).
BAILIFF, British accent (can be doubled by SALVATORE).
JUDGE, 60s, British accent (can be doubled by MR. MITCHELL).
MR. LANYER, NELLIE’S barrister, British accent (can be doubled by HERR STRAKOSCH).
.
HERR KARL STRAKOSCH, 20s, impresario; German accent.
Male Ensemble:
Delivery Man (Offstage)
Photographer
Journalist 1
Journalist 2
Voice 1
Voice 2
Voice 3
Voice 4
Offstage Male Voice
Time: 1885-1904
Places: (each location used several times, except the Midwest)
Australian Outback
London
Paris
Midwest
(in order of appearance)
NELLIE MELBA, late 20s, “the voice of the [19th] century", who rose from humble origins in Australia to become the world's first superstar opera diva; Australian accent.
MADAME MATHILDE MARCHESI (pronounced Mar-KAY’zee) late 60s, the greatest bel canto singing teacher of the 19th century. She is German, married to an Italian aristocrat, living in Paris, fluent in six languages; German accent.
CHARLIE ARMSTRONG (KANGAROO CHARLIE), late 20s/early30s, husband of NELLIE MELBA. Youngest child of an Irish baron, he is a daredevil drover and boxer who thinks with his fists; Australian accent.
JONESY THE MAILMAN, any age, a character; Australian accent.
MR. DAVID MITCHELL, late 50s, NELLIE'S father, a man of gravity; Scottish accent.
ALPHONSE THE FOOTMAN, any age, haughty servant of MADAME MARCHESI; French accent.
SALVATORE, late 60s, husband of MADAME MARCHESI, an Italian aristocrat-turned-singer; Italian accent.
PHILIPPE, late 20s, duc d’Orleans, heir to the abolished French throne, a very handsome man who could pass as CHARLIE’S brother; French accent.
GEORGE, age 8-10, son of NELLIE and CHARLIE, speaks French and English (can be played by an adult female).
BAILIFF, British accent (can be doubled by SALVATORE).
JUDGE, 60s, British accent (can be doubled by MR. MITCHELL).
MR. LANYER, NELLIE’S barrister, British accent (can be doubled by HERR STRAKOSCH).
.
HERR KARL STRAKOSCH, 20s, impresario; German accent.
Male Ensemble:
Delivery Man (Offstage)
Photographer
Journalist 1
Journalist 2
Voice 1
Voice 2
Voice 3
Voice 4
Offstage Male Voice
Time: 1885-1904
Places: (each location used several times, except the Midwest)
Australian Outback
London
Paris
Midwest
