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Secret Life of Walter Mitty, The

A thoroughly pleasant musical evening.

Time

More information

Description

  • Full Length Musical
  • Comedy
  • 120 minutes

  • Time Period: Present Day
  • Target Audience: Appropriate for all audiences
  • Set Requirements: Unit Set/Multiple Settings, Opportunity for Spectacle

  • Performance Group:
  • Community Theatre, College Theatre / Student, High School/Secondary, Professional Theatre
On his fortieth birthday Walter Mitty reflects on his drab, ordinary life. Defeated in his quest for wealth and glory by family responsibilities, a mortgage, and a routine job, he creates elaborate fantasies in which he is the hero. His secret world is so enticing that he often loses sight of the boundary between dream and reality and comically slips into his imagination. 

An attractive would be chanteuse aptly named Willa de Wisp encourages Walter to leave his wife, shed the burdens of suburban living and really live the secret life. Unfortunately it is as unattainable as it is appealing. At the end of the play Walter discovers that he is happily committed to the real world.
REVIEWS:

A thoroughly pleasant musical evening.

Time
Premiere Production: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty was first presented at the Players Theatre, New York City on October 26, 1964.

Characters

  • Casting: 5M, 6F, 1M or F
  • Casting Attributes: Room for Extras
  • Casting Notes: A total of 15 actors were used in the original New York production, each one playing several roles. However, as many more actors as desired may be used.
  • Chorus Size: Large

WALTER MITTY - Male, 40. A whimsical, henpecked, dreamer supreme. Instantly likeable.
AGNES - Female, 30-40. Mitty's wife. Reasonably attractive, nagging, practical, but underneath her strong veneer, she is sensitive, understanding and smart.
PENINNAH - Female, 10-11. Mitty and Agnes' daughter. Unspoiled and sweet.
HARRY - Male, 40's. Pleasant, friendly bartender type.
WILLA - Female, late 20's. Sexy and kookie nightclub singer.
IRVING - Male, 30. Slightly dense. He is a stern believer in health foods and spas, and looks it.
RUTHIE - Female, Mid 20's. Volatile and a little on the crude side. Pretty ion a cheap sort of way.
GORMAN - Male, 40. A successful salesman type with a gift of gab and great charm.
HAZEL - Female, Mid 20's. Speaks with a lisp, dumb as they come.
SYLVIA - Female, Mid 20's. Definitely not the finishing school type.
MACMILLAN - Male, 50. A large, pompous, gruff man.
CHORUS (SATB) - Firing Squad, Peasants, Mission Control Operator, Surgical Patient, Dr. Renshaw, Dr. Benbow, Nurses, Professor Remington, Dr. Pritchard-Mitford, Crepe Suzette, Tortoni, Apple Turnover, Townspeople, Blind Date, Folies Customers, Male Dancers, Group Therapy Patients.

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