It's All Relative: Charley's Aunt by All An Act Theatre

Contributed

Continuing through May All An Act Theatre presents Charley's Aunt, hosted at the Station Dinner Theatre, is a hilarious farce that brings family dysfunction to a new level. Adapted from a play written in 1892, the play and situation is timeless, relatable, and very funny.

CONTINUING FRIDAY, MAY 17

All An Act Theatre and the Community Shelter Services building at 655 W. 16th St. suffered a fire on April 27. The Station Dinner Theatre, located at 4940 Peach St. has generously stepped up to host the production of Charley's Aunt. The show must go on. To donate to the relief efforts for All An Act, please visit their gofundme page.

Have an eccentric family member who always brings their personality to holiday dinners? Then maybe you can relate to the play Charley's Aunt, which is being brought to All An Act's temporary stage at The Station Dinner Theatre as its home in Erie's Little Italy neighborhood undergoes repairs from a fire suffered the morning of April 27.

It's a hilarious farce, first performed in 1892, about three undergrads at Oxford University. Jack and Charley love Amy and Kitty and they are going to turn their lunch, with Charley's titular Brazilian aunt, Donna Lucia, into an occasion to declare their feelings to the girls. However, when Donna Lucia's visit is canceled at the last-minute, they need the lunch to go ahead (love demands it!) — so they conscript their friend, Lord Fancourt "Babbs" Babberley, to dress up as and pretend to be the elderly family member.

Naturally, when the real Donna Lucia turns up, chaos ensues.

"I'm a huge fan of farce and the ridiculous situations the characters find themselves in," said David W. Mitchell, artistic director of All An Act and one of the play's billed directors. "It's a hilarious evening of theater."

While the play was written in the late 19th century, audiences will see a reworking of the original piece. Mitchell explains, "This is an adaptation by Martin Holt that was done at a theater in Montana in 2022. I contacted him and made a deal to produce it here in Erie. So, although the story is older, it is set in the 1930s and the language is more modern."

What's more, it's a terrific show for the entire family — including kids, parents, and perhaps an aunt or two.

Fridays and Saturdays,  May 17, 18, 24, 25 at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, May 19 at 3 p.m. // The Station Dinner Theatre, 4940 Peach St. // $5-$18 // For tickets, info, and the full schedule visit: allanact.net