The Battle of Castle Itter: A Marginally Accurate Tale of One of the Weirdest Battles in World War II

by Will Cloud

A former Nazi, Teddy Roosevelt reincarnated, and a bunch of French politicians walk into a castle resort and fight one of the weirdest battles of World War II. Castle Itter is positioned directly in the line of Allied troops moving across Western Europe during the spring of 1945. It is also the home to a number of French political prisoners, who are left behind by their captors to face the roving bands of Waffen...

A former Nazi, Teddy Roosevelt reincarnated, and a bunch of French politicians walk into a castle resort and fight one of the weirdest battles of World War II. Castle Itter is positioned directly in the line of Allied troops moving across Western Europe during the spring of 1945. It is also the home to a number of French political prisoners, who are left behind by their captors to face the roving bands of Waffen-SS retrating through the mountains. These Frenchmen and women must put aside political differences with each other to defend their keep and get word to the American troops that they need rescuing. The Americans respond by sending their most gung-ho, yeehaw “Murica” man they can: Captain Jack Lee. They join forces with the Austrian resistance fighter that was the Major Formerly known as a Nazi. This is a story of old men having to fight the wars they started, of young men learning the weariness of conflict, and of silly old Frenchmen hurling insults at each other.

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The Battle of Castle Itter: A Marginally Accurate Tale of One of the Weirdest Battles in World War II

Character Information

Characters have been listed as "male" and "female" in accordance to their real-life counterparts, but the expectation is that non-binary and trans actors be a major portion of this cast. I also would strongly encourage gender-blind casting as funny little Frenchmen come in all shapes and sizes. Same goes for age and ethnicity, with two exceptions. The French characters are for the most part older, and can be played by folks of similar age or by younger actors. Jack Lee should appear younger than his counterparts given his youth in the show is important. It goes without saying, but Josef Gangl should very probably be Caucasian.

Unfortunately there are no good opportunities to double cast.
  • EDWARD DALADIER
    “stocky, barrel-chested, and pugnacious”, the Prime Minister before Hitler invaded Poland. Part of Free France, served in the military.
    Early 60s
    Assigned male at birth
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man,
      Non-binary
  • PAUL REYNAUD
    described as having “the countenance of a samurai who had been educated at Cambridge”. A political rival of Daladier, still no ally of Germany.
    Late 60s
    Assigned male at birth
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man,
      Non-binary
  • CHRISTINE MABIRE
    Reynaud’s “secretary”. Described as “remarkably elegant”, always well dressed, very sharp and intelligent.
    Early 30s
    Cis female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman,
      Non-binary
  • MARIE-AGNES CAILLIAU
    the elder sister of Charles de Gaulle. Underneath the somewhat naive, pious exterior is a feisty combat medic who takes crap from no one.
    Mid 40s
    Cis female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman,
      Non-binary
  • MAURICE GAMELIN
    short, a lifetime of military service and command weighs him down. His failure as the leader of French forces led to the German conquest of France. Daladier’s confidant.
    Early 70s
    Assigned male at birth
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
  • JEAN BOROTRA
    lanky and athletic, known as the Bounding Basque. A tennis star who was imprisoned by the Nazis after being unable to tow the Vichy line. Deeply loyal to France, loves to escape prisons.
    Late 40s
    Assigned male at birth
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man,
      Non-binary
  • MAX WEYGAND
    Strong Catholic faith shaken to the core by the war and his part in it. He called for an armistice that ultimately led to France being conquered by Germany. Considered by Reynaud to be a traitor.
    Late 60s
    Assigned male at birth
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man,
      Non-binary
  • MARIE WEYGAND
    fiercely loyal to her husband, struggles to reconcile her experience with the horrors of war and her own faith.
    Early 60s
    Cis female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman,
      Non-binary
  • MICHEL CLEMENCEAU
    incredibly healthy for his age. He considers prison to be an “adventure”. An Entrepreneur, he joined the Deuxieme Bureau (CIA equivalent) in 1939, at retirement age.
    Early 70s
    Assigned male at birth
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
  • JOSEF GANGL
    nicknamed “Sepp”. Stoic, war-torn member of the Austrian Resistance, formerly a Nazi artillery officer. In some ways, he is far more mature than the people he is trying to protect.
    Early 30s
    Assigned male at birth
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man,
      Non-binary
  • JACK LEE
    former college football star. “Rough-talking, hard-drinking, hard charging”. Tank officer with a swashbuckling disposition and a swagger unlike anything else. The spiritual descendant of Teddy Roosevelt. The archetypal “American Maverick”.
    Mid 20s
    Assigned male at birth
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man,
      Non-binary

Development History

  • Reading, Story Weavers Collective, 2024
  • Reading, Private, 2023