Janet Munsil
playwright, director, teacher, instigator
PLAYS
1992-2020
Attaboy!
ORIGINAL DRAMA // Full-length // 2W, 3M - new and unproduced
June 12, 2020
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A play, by Jane Austen, adapted by Janet Munsil
Click Here to visit Pride and Prejudice Pages for more information.
New, revised edition for 2016. Janet Munsil's witty, romantic, and ingenious adaptation of Jane Austen's beloved tale of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy is remarkable for capturing the tone and compressing the complexity of the story into a fast-paced, funny, and fiercely romantic two hours on stage. Sold-out and held-over in numerous large professional theatres, including Canada's National Arts Centre, Theatre Calgary, and The Arts Club Stanley Theatre, this adaptation is also extremely popular with schools and community theatres for its clarity, comedy, and large number of great acting roles - especially for women.
“Worth ovations - a sell-out hit.” Calgary Sun
“Remarkable . . . a fine and faithful adaptation Austen’s novel captures the tone and compresses the complexity of the story.” - Burnaby Now
“Delightful…breathes life into the novel, transforming Austen’s wry, verbal humour into lightness and gaiety, while not overlooking the novel’s darker themes.” - Vancouver Courier
“Vivid, eloquent, and very funny.” - Ottawa Citizen
“Simple, crisp elegance - downright brilliantly conceived.” - Brokenleg Review
“Funny, fierce, and romantic. Undeniably engaging.” - Calgary Herald
DETAILS
2 Acts, approximately 2 hrs 30 mins including intermission.
Original Production: 11 Female / 6 Male in 19 roles.
Can be doubled down to a minimum cast of 12, or increased with additional dancers, servants, townspeople.
PRODUCTION HISTORY
Co-Commissioned and Co-Premiered by Theatre Calgary and Canada's National Arts Centre (Ottawa) in 2012, Directed by Dennis Garnhum.
Selected professional productions: 2016: Arts Club Stanley Theatre (Vancouver), 2017: Chemainus Theatre, 2018: Persephone Theatre.
Influence
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Circus Fire
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Act of Faith
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That Elusive Spark
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Ugly Duchess
What does it mean to "rule with a man's heart?" Margaret Maultasch, 14th century Monarch of Tyrol, nicknamed "Pocket-Mouth," was reputed to be the ugliest woman in history. The perfect scapegoat for her terrified subjects during the ravages of the Black Death, she was also an extremely desirable political bride.
Written for and performed by a male actor (Paul Terry), the original production has been sold out, held over and named "Best of the Fest" at fringe and theatre festivals across North America and beyond. The Globe and Mail called it "one of the most beautifully nuanced performances of the entire festival."
The original production has been retired and the script is now available for production.
PRODUCTION HISTORY
Festival Premiered in 1993 as part of the Open Space New Theatre Series (Victoria BC)
Professional Premiere, 1999, Exit Theatre, San Francisco, USA
Festivals (1994-2008): Victoria Fringe, Vancouver Fringe, Cowichan Fringe, Edmonton Fringe, Winnipeg Fringe (Heldover), Toronto Fringe (Heldover), San Francisco Fringe (Heldover), Belltable Arts Centre (Limerick, Ireland), Prague Fringe, University of Victoria Spotlight on Alumni.
PRODUCTION DETAILS
One Act - 62 minutes.
Cast: Solo show. Intended for a male actor playing Margaret, although actors of all genders are welcome.
Emphysema (a love story) | UK Title: Smoking with Lulu
UK title: Smoking with Lulu
PURCHASE SCRIPT
In 1978, bad-boy British theatre critic Kenneth Tynan interviews his screen idol - the silent film siren Louise Brooks - now 71 and living in Rochester, NY. Their meetings form a kind of romance between two sensualists, overseen by the spirit of the amoral Lulu.
PRODUCTION HISTORY
First produced in 1994 as part of the Open Space New Theatre Series, Victoria BC.
Professional Premiere: Pancanadian PlayRites Festival 1997, Alberta Theatre Projects (Calgary)
directed by Micheline Chevrier.
Other productions: Tarragon (Toronto), West Yorkshire Playhouse (Leeds, UK), Touchstone Theatre (Vancouver), Soho Theatre + Writer's Centre (London UK), Citizen's (Glasgow).
Published by Signature Editions (Canada) and Oberon Press (UK)
DETAILS
Usually performed in one act (80 minutes)
2 Female (characters aged 21 and 77) & 1 Male (50s)
This play contains smoking.
I Have Seen Beautiful Jim Key
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A play with music for young audiences. Using only patience, kindness, and apple slices, former slave William “Doc” Key of Tennessee trained his horse, Beautiful Jim Key, to read and count. In the early 20th century, their traveling show became an inspiration for millions of school children learning their letters and numbers. The most enduring children’s stories feature animals with human-like abilities. I Have Seen Beautiful Jim Key is a story of the relationship between animals and humans, the mysteries of animal intelligence, and the value of friendship, cooperation, kindness and patience. Featuring original songs by Katrina Kadoski.
DETAILS
45 minutes
Original production: 1 M (Doc), 3 W (Jim/mask, Monk/puppeteer, Robin/Musician).
PRODUCTION HISTORY
Workshop Production, Family Theatre Festival, Intrepid Theatre, Victoria, BC 2015
Sveva
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“Life is above all a journey of the soul.” – Sveva Caetani
A quiet town. A mysterious family. A visionary artist. An epic theatrical journey.
A new play created especially for the Powerhouse Theatre, exploring the remarkable life, art and legacy of Vernon’s Sveva Caetani. An epic theatrical journey, Sveva steps into the vivid, beautiful, and sometimes harrowing imaginative world of Caetani’s paintings, while celebrating her relationship with Vernon, and the many good companions there who contributed to her life’s inspiring second act.
PRODUCTION HISTORY
Commissioned and Premiered by The Powerhouse, Vernon BC, October 2017.
Directed by Kevin McKendrick
Scenic and Costume design by Dave and Lorraine Brotsky
DETAILS
2 Acts, 105 minutes
Flexible cast size. Original Production: 17 female and 3 male actors, aged 8-80.
Be Still
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Sideshow
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Why I Fish
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Little Weirdo (Collected Short Plays)
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