A Spirited Manor - A Victorian Penny Dreadful

by Kate Danley

FULL LENGTH - Victorian supernatural

A grieving widow. A house with secrets. And an invitation to a seance...

When Clara O'Hare's husband passed away, she felt her life was over. But when she moves into a new home to escape the memories, she discovers that she may not be alone...

Desperate to find answers, she attends a séance in a remote country home surrounded by a colorful cast of strangers. But something...

FULL LENGTH - Victorian supernatural

A grieving widow. A house with secrets. And an invitation to a seance...

When Clara O'Hare's husband passed away, she felt her life was over. But when she moves into a new home to escape the memories, she discovers that she may not be alone...

Desperate to find answers, she attends a séance in a remote country home surrounded by a colorful cast of strangers. But something sinister has decided to make itself known. It will be up to her and medium, Wesley Lowenherz, to find out what the spirits of the manor are dying to tell them.

Laced with gothic romance and paranormal mystery, A Spirited Manor is a fast-paced adventure that examines the journey from grief to purpose, and the return to life after loss.

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A Spirited Manor - A Victorian Penny Dreadful

Recommended by

Tammis Doyle: A Spirited Manor - A Victorian Penny Dreadful by Kate Danley

“

Kate Danley has created a theatrical multi-dimensional gothic play that is fun to read, to stage and to watch. Both character and plot driven, A Spirited Manor allows the cast and director/designers to jump into Danley's Victorian America - complete with ghosts, demons and a meet-cute! This is a good mystery/thriller and stage horror. Love this play.

Kate Danley has created a theatrical multi-dimensional gothic play that is fun to read, to stage and to watch. Both character and plot driven, A Spirited Manor allows the cast and director/designers to jump into Danley's Victorian America - complete with ghosts, demons and a meet-cute! This is a good mystery/thriller and stage horror. Love this play.

”
Nora Louise Syran: A Spirited Manor - A Victorian Penny Dreadful by Kate Danley

“

Marvelous Victorian world-building, fun characters and a séance. What more do you need? Oh, and a mystery and a ghost story and... Danley will take an audience on quite a ride. Brava!

Marvelous Victorian world-building, fun characters and a séance. What more do you need? Oh, and a mystery and a ghost story and... Danley will take an audience on quite a ride. Brava!

”
Ross Tedford Kendall: A Spirited Manor - A Victorian Penny Dreadful by Kate Danley

“

Dark, spooky, and full of emotion, this play captures the Victorian gothic literature so well you'd think it was taken from a real penny dreadful. But this original piece would be perfect for any modern theatre looking for something for the scary season. Please consider this for an October run, preferably near me!

Dark, spooky, and full of emotion, this play captures the Victorian gothic literature so well you'd think it was taken from a real penny dreadful. But this original piece would be perfect for any modern theatre looking for something for the scary season. Please consider this for an October run, preferably near me!

”

View all 17 recommendations

Character Information

With double casting - 5f, 5m;
Without double casting - 9f, 10m;

Roles can be individuals or double cast with the main cast as suits the production. The movement ensemble can be enlarged to include as many as desired.

Marguerite Matson

headstrong, spirited, modern woman for the age. Can be doubled with Woman #6

Character Age

20 - 40

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Female
Clara O'Hare

A young widow

Character Age

20s - 30s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Female
Norman Scettico

A stiff scientist. Can be doubled with "Cab Driver" and "Man #1"

Character Age

20 - 40

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Male
Thomas O'Hare

Clara's late husband, a ghost. Can be doubled with any of the male roles.

Character Age

20s - 30s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Male
Clifford Oroberg

Lord Oroberg's son. A cad, coward, and scoundrel. Engaged to Violet Nero. Can be doubled with "Man #2" and "MC".

Character Age

20 - 40

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Male
Wesley Lowenherz

A dashing medium.

Character Age

20s - 30s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Male
Man #1 / Cab Driver

Ghost chorus, can be doubled with Norman Scettico

Character Age

20+

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Male,
  
  Non-binary
Mrs. Nan

Clara's housekeeper; can be double cast with Hilda Nero

Character Age

50+

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Female
Man #2 / MC

Ghost chorus; can be double cast with Clifford Oroberg

Character Age

20+

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Male,
  
  Non-binary
Hilda Nero

Violet's overbearing mother; Can be double cast with Mrs. Nan

Character Age

50+

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Female
Man #3

Ghost chorus; can be double cast with Lord Horace Oroberg

Character Age

20+

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Male,
  
  Non-binary
Mr. Edgar

Clara's butler; can be double cast with Gilbert

Character Age

40+

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Male
Woman #4

Ghost chorus. Can be double cast with Violet Nero

Character Age

Any

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Female,
  
  Non-binary
Gilbert

Horace's butler; can be double cast with Mr. Edgar

Character Age

40+

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Male
Woman #5

Ghost chorus. Can be double cast with Minnie Lowenherz.

Character Age

Any

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Female,
  
  Non-binary
Minnie Lowenherz

Wesley's late sister, now a ghost. Was a servant. Mentioned as Irish in the script, but can be changed to suit casting. Can be doubled with Woman #5

Character Age

teen+

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  Teens,
  
  20s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Female
Woman #6

Ghost chorus. Can be double cast with Marguerite Matson.

Character Age

Any

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Female
Lord Horace Oroberg

A blustering hunter. Teddy Roosevelt type. Can be double cast with Man #3

Character Age

50+

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Male
Violet Nero

A frail young lady with a French upbringing. Engaged to Clifford Oroberg. Can be doubled with Woman #4

Character Age

18+

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Female

Development History

Type Reading, Organization Driftwood After Dark First Draft, Year 2022

Production History

Type University, Organization Bellevue College Theatre Arts, Year 2023
Type High School, Organization Vashon High School, Year 2022
Type High School, Organization Walkersville High School, Year 2022

Genre

adaptation,

adventure,

drama,

experimental,

fantasy,

holiday,

horror,

immersive,

movement/physical,

mystery/thriller,

period

Subject Matter Keywords

halloween,

gothic,

ghost story

Length

90 minutes to two hours

Cast Size

10—19

Age of Intended Audience

ages 18 and up

Narrative Attributes

Centers Female Characters

Reviews

Vashon Beachcomber

“
The Victorian-era thriller, written by Seattle author Kate Danley in the high-handed style of Penny Dreadful pulp literature, combines several genres of horror stories, incorporating haunted houses, ghosts, supernatural demons, and even an Agatha Christie-style whodunit into its theatrical mix.
”