As the spring Cappies season approaches, rehearsals for Chantilly’s double cast spring play “Auntie Mame” are under way. The comedy takes place in New York City over several years during the depression era. It tells the story of socialite Mame Dennis and how her carefree life is suddenly changed when she becomes the guardian of her orphaned nephew Patrick. Patrick and his maid Norah are a little thrown off when they first meet his eccentric aunt, but they soon feel at home. The Dennis household includes an actress who is often tipsy, a comical servant and a klutzy secretary.
“She’s a woman who just loves living life,” said Faith McAuliffe, one of the seniors playing Mame. “Mame becomes very attached to Patrick and realizes that he’s more important to her than her hobbies or money.”
Senior Abba Kiser is Mame in the other cast and is “thrilled” about getting to play the role, but “there are so many lines to memorize and tons of costume changes.”
Playing young Patrick in both casts is freshman Andrew Dugan who said that he is “very excited” to be in the show and “really likes the part.”
Director Ed Monk said that there are a lot of students involved with this production. “There are 34 actors in the two casts and we have about 15 technicians on the running crew. It’s always great to have a show where so many kids get a chance to participate.”