character sketches for print my office computer

7/31/2019 Character Sketches for Print My Office Computer

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From My Palace in Culpeper

Adapted from the book The Life of the Reverend James Ireland

Originally Printed 1819

In Winchester, Virginia, for the publishersBy J. Foster

Character Sketches

NarratorsNarrator 1 - FemaleNarrator 2 - MaleNarrator 3 - Female

All narrators will be dressed in period costumes, wearing the same clothing throughout the entireplay. These participants are not just readers but at times are physical actors, garnering theattention of the audience between scenes as they tell the story of James Ireland and introducebackground information. Clarity of voice, inflection, modulation, volume, and enthusiasm are muchrequired for these 3 parts.

Cast of Characters (Act 1) EstimatedAges

James Ireland - lead character 15-17 years oldOutside of the narrators and the other actor playing the part of the older James Ireland, thischaracter will have the most amount of lines, and will be present in all scenes of Act 1. His character

is brash, proud, boastful, and very settled in his mind and ways. He is very determined and has amatter of fact presence on stage. His character changes a little when in Scene 4 he realizes theoverwhelming finality of the choice he has made to sail across the ocean to the colonies.

George - older brother of James 17 years oldNot as bold as James, but still desiring to be a leader, he often does not think about what he saysbefore his words are spoken, nor does he consider his actions. He is very much enamored with theidea of a war with France, and enjoys the heroic displays of James and Whitefield. George is verymuch a bystander for any action that takes place, but he wishes he had the courage and strength ofhis younger brother.

Sarah - younger sister 14 years oldor soSarah is a no-nonsense kind of girl. She loves her family dearly, but takes it upon herself tomother the other siblings when no adults are present. Sarah brings a heart for God to the rest ofthe children, and has a strong desire to follow in the ways of men like Whitefield. Her presenceamong the displays a down to earth effect especially with the other children. She is all business,and whatever mother and father say must be gospel to her.


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Jessie - younger sister 10-11 yearsoldIn the one scene where Jessie has a speaking role, she is pre-occupied with her toy doll, but perks upfor her older sisters voice. She has a sense of duty about her.

Cast of Characters (Act 1) EstimatedAgesScot - younger brother 10 -12 years oldLogan - younger brother 10 years oldWallace - younger brother 7 years old

These boys have no speaking role in the two scenes in which they appear. In the scene where Sarah,George, and James are speaking about Whitefield coming to town, these boys pay little or noattention to what is being discussed. The entire scene has the three of them gathered on the floorplaying marbles until the lights go out.

Mary - teenage girl poor handmaid 15-16 yearsoldMary is the typical girl of the century that admires a boy like James, but has a difficult time inkeeping her place. She pushes the limits with what is proper and right, only being reigned in bySusanna, her friend. Mary pines away for the attention of Ireland, and she lives in her own little worldbelieving that one day, James will notice her and become her knight in shining armor. Her actionsand emotions extend over the top to the point of being unreal.

Susanna - teenage girl poor chambermaid 15-16 years oldThis character is Marys best friend and calming influence in her life. She is the realistic side of Mary,using words and actions to bring Mary back down from the clouds. However, she does see in JamesIreland what Mary sees when it comes to the attractiveness in appearance and courage.

Thomas teenage boy in Edinburgh, classmate 13-16 yearsold

This character does not have that many lines to say, but he is important nonetheless. Thomas is thebest friend of Jonathan. Thomas views his role as one of fight promoter championing the strengthof Jonathan to all others. He is a coward, however, and should display this role through his emotions,stance, and in the way he walks.

Jonathan wealthy son of Lord Huntingdon 13-16 years oldJonathan, like Thomas, does not have that many lines to say, but his stage presence is just asimportant as Irelands. Jonathan is very stoic and only has one thing on his mind fighting the nextfellow that would try to dethrone him as boxing king of the school. He should have a menacingpresence, though not necessarily wishing ill harm to anyone. He is confident in his skills, anddisdains any that would believe they could take him down in a fight.

Robert fellow sailor, friend during his naval years 17-18 years oldRobert is in only one scene, but he shares the stage with only one other character Ireland. He isthe friend of Ireland that tries to speak sensibly about the rash decision that Ireland has made totravel across the ocean to the colonies. Robert is very loyal to the crown, speaks in very serious,


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militaristic tones, but he refuses to lose Irelands friendship. He shows much maturity and has a verystrong stage presence as he tries to verbally and emotionally get Ireland to change his mind.

George Whitefield Great Awakening Revivalist, spirited, emotional preacherThis is the renowned evangelist of the 18th century, and his character (although the only words wehear from him are his sermon) must have a very commanding presence. With great emotionalappeal, he must use a booming voice and great gestures to reach the audience with the gospel.Boldness and confidence must be immediately discerned by the audience when the lights go up, butthere must also be compassion and love in his voice.

Crowd at the fight all available male cast that are teenagers or younger

Crowd at the preaching any and all available cast


James Ireland young adultThis actor (different from Act 1) will carry through until the end of the play, and will have the mostlines to memorize. When he first appears in Act 2, Ireland is settled in his decision toteach/live/work in the colonies, and has embraced their way of thinking, but he is very unsettledwhen it comes to his spiritual condition. Each scene should determine his emotions and actions, formuch of his life changes after he is saved. He should be confident in each scene, but his boldnessshould be especially present once he begins the preaching phase in Act 3. Remember that hiswillingness to stand and fight would be used by God when he faced the arrest and prisonconfinement. With almost reckless abandonment, he always pursued that which was right, even if hebelieved that he would be the only one to do so. Gods work in his spirit and soul through theScriptures made Ireland to see that he needed to identify with the Baptists and champion the causefor soul-liberty. His character must display compassion and an overall concerted effort to preachChrist to the masses, yet through his discourse with Benjamin and Catherine, it must be shown thatlike unto Jesus Christ, Ireland went after individual souls.

Joseph pupil at Irelands schoolhouse 15-16 years oldBenjamin - pupil at Irelands schoolhouse 15-16 yearsold

These two boys are the typical class clowns when their scene first opens, but they ultimately realizetheir position and give in to the demands of Ireland, their teacher. These actors must be willing toact silly, sarcastic, and corny, but they must also be adept at listening for the audience to laugh atcertain intervals so as not to rush through their lines. Joseph and Benjamin are like two twinsseparated at birth. They take great pride in mocking their teacher, and show remorse only forgetting caught.

Nathan - pupil at Irelands schoolhouse


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The above characters are all students at Irelands school, but Nathan has the most dialogue withIreland at the beginning of the scene. Nathan is the most serious of the students maybe evengoing to the extreme of trying to be teachers pet. He is not a brown-noser, but he does show goodeffort and maturity in his character. All of the other children are typical school children of the era,but are generally too afraid or too young to say something in class.

Nathaniel wealthy friend of James young adult friendThis is Irelands unsaved, though religious, friend in the Shenandoah Valley. He only cares forIrelands artistic ability, and has no interest in the spiritual aspect of Irelands writings. A relationshipwith God seems frivolous to him. Nathaniel does not like the Baptists, nor does he like anyone whosupports the cause of the upcoming War for Independence. He sees Irelands poetic talent as a wayto make money, and Nathaniel exudes this aristocratic air about him by his dress, words, and actionsin the scene. There must be a stark contrast between the manner and custom of him and Irelandduring the scene.


James Ireland young adult(see description of character in Act 2)

Benjamin same character as in Act 2 15-16 years oldThis is the same character as found in Act 2 in the schoolhouse, but there is a stark contrast to hisbehavior. No longer is he the rambunctious student that reveled in disobedience, but now he is thefollower of Preacher Ireland. He desires to be like Christ, but has a difficult time understanding whatit means to be saved now that he is a new Christian. He hangs off of every word from Ireland, andbelieves as though if Ireland were to die, he would lose a family member.

Catherine sister of Benjamin 12-14 years oldThis character is Benjamins slightly younger sister. She is unsaved, but willing to follow Benjaminaround to see the excitement in Culpeper and to experience all that is going on. When she isintroduced on stage, she staunchly defends her point of view as she corrects Benjamin time andagain. After the explosion at the jail, however, her character develops, she opens up to Ireland, andto Benjamins testimony, more and more.

Mr. Manifa farmer and acquaintance of James older adultMr. Manifa is the character in the play (and in Jame Irelands biography) that represents thefaithfulness of Gods people. No matter what comes his way, Mr. Manifa has a can do attitudeconcerning the things of God, and full wishes to host a church service on his farm. He shows a verymatter of fact tone with Ireland when discussing the service that is going to take place and howIreland may be arrested. His tone is not one of despair, but of a grave sense of duty towards thethings of God.

Magistrate chief deputy of Spotsylvania County adultThis is the chief character that represents the old country and the royalty of England. For him, it isthe kings way or no way at all. His only purpose is to enforce the law of the crown, and handlespeople with a very ill, pompous attitude. His words and manner are very accusatory of any that hecomes across, and in his mind, people are guilty until proven innocent.


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Cast of Characters (Act 3) Estimated

Ages

Henchman 1 both henchmen work for Magistrate adultHenchman 2

These two characters are the atypical roughians who do their evil masters bidding. The henchmenare uncooth, uneducated, and very rough in manner and way, although they are obedient to themagistrate. They look at everyone else with scowls of disdain and contempt.

Crowd any and all available cast

Villain One young adultVillain Two young adultThe villains must display an overall presence of evil, bent on doing the devils work to try to killIreland. There clothing is ripped, torn, dirty, and unkempt. Although they are not pirates, they mightas well be. According to their manner and actionsthey could sign up for Blackbeards crew at anymoment. One of them, preferably Villain Two, must have a menacing size and/or presence. Villain

Two must have a commanding presence on stage, for it must appear as he leads the duo. It wouldbe nice if Villain One or Two would have a thick English accent with a gravely voice.

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