Embedded Files
Presented at the beginning of May, the spring production is a straight play, varying by genre and style year by year. Students will be introduced to modern and classic playwrights and will focus on developing skills in vocal, physical, and emotional acting techniques
The 2026 Spring Straight Play Production:
The Canterville Ghost
By Tim Kelly
Adapted from the short story by Oscar Wilde
An adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s short story of the same name, The Canterville Ghost is a hilarious farce, telling the story of a modern American family that moves into a haunted mansion in England. The ghost of Sir Simon de Canterville has held residence at Canterville Chase for hundreds of years, terrorizing all who try to get in his way. It seems, however, that he has finally met his match in Americans Mr. Horace Otis, his wife, Lucy, and his two teenage daughters, Pam and Wendy. Featuring such as characters at Martin the Maniac, Jennie the maid, and the eccentric “psychic researcher” Madam Balaklava, this high energy comedy is a perfect treat for the whole family!
Characters, in order of appearance:
Jennie: a maid at Canterville Chase, younger, devoted to keeping the manor in order and convinced the haunting is real business. She’s polite but sharp, often caught between horror and determination.
Mrs. Umney: the housekeeper at Canterville Chase, older, a lifelong servant who’s seen more spooky sights than she cares to admit. Superstitious and dramatic, she delights in every spooky sound and shadow — until the Americans refuse to be scared.
Lady Canterville: the former owner of the estate — traditional, aristocratic, and tied to the long legacy of Canterville Chase. She carries an air of old-world dignity and exasperation at modern attitudes.
Weeds: the gardner (yes…his name is Weeds and he’s a gardner), a bit gruff but with a heart of gold. Keeps the grounds tidy and offers comic commentary on the “haunted madness” around him.
Pam: one of the American teenagers who moves into Canterville Chase. Practical, sarcastic, and unfazed by ghostly apparitions, she treats every supernatural event like a minor inconvenience; she brings energy, skepticism, and comic timing to every scene.
Wendy: Pam’s sister — just as bold but with a slightly warmer heart. Willingly dives head-first into adventure and has a creative mind and great curiosity; together with Pam, she turns haunting into chaos and hilarity.
Mrs. Otis (Lucy): the sensible new owner of the manor and mother of Pam and Wendy. Lucy is generous and grounded, always trying to maintain order in the household despite ghostly interruptions.
Mr. Otis (Horace): Lucy’s husband: enthusiastic, optimistic, and determined to make the best out of a haunted situation. He rarely takes anything too seriously and prefers logic and cheer to superstition.
Virginia: Lucy’s younger sister; thoughtful, perceptive and sees beyond the ghost’s theatrical antics to be the bridge between living and spirit worlds. Quiet yet courageous, she brings warmth and heart into the midst of chaos. Falls in love with Lord Cecil.
Sir Simon: “The Canterville Ghost;” he is equal parts pompous, theatrical, and bewildered. His attempts at haunting become increasingly over-the-top and, ultimately, funny. As the play progresses, Sir Simon slips moments of real vulnerability beneath the comedy.
The Vicar: a village clergyman who brings a dose of earnest concern and occasionally bewilderment.
Lord Cecil: Lady Canterville’s nephew; polite, proper, and perhaps slightly puzzled by all the bizarre events, but always earnest. Falls in love with Virginia.
Mrs. Dampier: the vicar’s wife, she is also often bewildered by the events of the play and can comment as an outsider within the American’s new home.
Madam Balaklava: a “psychic researcher” An eccentric guest who arrives convinced she can “read” the ghosts — and maybe puts on more show than the spirits themselves.
Martin the Maniac: a ghost; he’s a frantic spirit whose energy and unpredictable behavior contrast with Sir Simon’s age-worn haunting style
Hester the Horrid: another ghost; dramatically dreadful, she relishes shrieks, swoops, and spine-tingling entrances, treating haunting like a grand performance.
Lady Joan the Graveless: another ghost; elegant, mysterious, and slightly melancholy, Lady Joan drifts through the castle with quiet dignity. Her title hints at an unfinished past, and she carries herself with the poise of someone caught between worlds.
Vampire Duchess: the final ghost; she treats haunting as high society entertainment and uses her bold personality and comic grandeur to frighten those around her. She is less terrifying than she is magnificently spooky and stylish.
Important Dates:
Auditions: March 9th and 10th: 3:30 to 5:30pm in the Blackbox
Performances:
Thursday, April 30th @ 7:00pm, WHS Auditorium
Friday, May 1st @ 7:00pm, WHS Auditorium
Saturday, May 2nd @ 2:00pm WHS Auditorium
Past Productions:
Past Productions:
2025: Student Written and Directed One Act Play Festival
2024: The Tempest by William Shakespeare
2023: All in the Timing and See Rock City and Other Destinations: Scenic Route
Prior to 2023, the fall production was a full length musical:
2022: Chicago: High School Edition by Bob Fosse, John Kander, and Fred Ebb
2021: Songs for a New World by Jason Robert Brown (presented virtually)
2019: Fiddler on the Roof by Joseph Stein, Sheldon Harnick, and Jerry Bock
Page updated
Report abuse