Stephen Planalp of Columbus to perform in Huntington University's 'Charley's Aunt'

2014 Mar 18

Casting uproarious laughter and rambunctious shenanigans as main characters, Huntington University Theater Company presents the delightful world-renowned British comedy, "Charley's Aunt."

Stephen Planalp, a senior Theatre Performance major from Columbus, IN, will perform as Lord Fancourt Babberly.

When longtime friends Jack (Matthew Burtless-Creps) and Charley (Kyle Lindsey) prepare to introduce their prospective girlfriends to Charley's well-to-do aunt from Brazil, trouble unfolds as they receive word that the wealthy aunt unfortunately cannot make her visit to her nephew. The two young men devise a proposal to convince their simpleton classmate, Lord Fancourt Babberly (Stephen Planalp) to impersonate Charley's aunt in order to save their intended date with the girls. What follows is a farcical romp that will leave audiences rolling in the aisles.

"Charley's Aunt," which was written by Brandon Thomas, will debut in Zurcher Auditorium in the Merillat Centre for the Arts at Huntington University on April 3, 4, 5, 10, 11 and 12. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. with special 2 p.m. matinee performances April 5 and 12. Jay Duffer, associate professor of theater, will direct.

"This is a wonderfully funny piece of theater. If something written more than 130 years ago can still make you guffaw then it must be a gem of a comedy," Duffer said. "The students and I are usually in hysterical laughter throughout the rehearsals. It has been great fun working on this show. We hope that the comedy is infectious and takes our audience's minds off their daily troubles. It is great escapism for anyone wanting a little lightness in their day."

For reservations, call the Merillat Centre for the Arts Box Office at 260-359-4261 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Tickets are $12 for general admission, $10 for students and seniors, $6 for children 13 and younger, $5 for HU students and $9 for HU faculty/staff. Tickets also will be sold at the door before every performance.

For more information about the Huntington University Theatre Company, visit www.huntington.edu/theatre.

Huntington University is a comprehensive Christian college of the liberal arts offering graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 70 academic concentrations. U.S. News & World Report ranks Huntington among the best colleges in the Midwest, and Forbes.com has listed the university as one of America's Best Colleges. Additionally, Princeton Review has named the institution to its "Best in the Midwest" list. Founded in 1897 by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, Huntington University is located on a contemporary, lakeside campus in northeast Indiana. The university is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU).

For text of this and all Huntington University news releases, visit www.huntington.edu/news.