Canterville - The musical

Canterville - The musical (inspired by The Canterville Ghost, 1887) is a new musical by Flavio Gargano, Robert Steiner and Valentina De Paolis. This adaptation of the original novel is a much more dramatic representation of the original story, which depicted cartoon-like characters and funny situations. The authors decided to make the characters more human and dramatic by rewriting most of the plot, adding new situations and reinventing the origins of the infestation in Canterville Chase.

Plot
Over the centuries, strange things have happened in Canterville Chase. People who inhabit the castle flee, go mad or mysteriously die. Survivors talk of a ghost who haunts anyone daring to reside there. One day an American family, the Otises, move in and things dramatically change. Every tactic the ghost utilizes to scare them away, backfires. Virginia, the family's daughter befriends the ghost and soon discovers, thanks to a recurring nightmare, how the evil spirit came to inhabit the mansion. In the meantime, Lord Higgins, the last of the Canterville's, who sold the castle to the Americans, hears of an immense treasure hidden within the mansion and with the help of a would-be clairvoyant, sets out to oust the ghost, rid himself of the new owners and make away with the riches. As the comical antics of the odd pair unfolds, Sir Simon dicovers a painting resembling his newfound friend, Virginia. This painting though, is three centuries old and depicts Eleanor, his wife whom he killed in a bout of jealousy, resulting in his imprisonment within the mansion. As Simon recalls the details of this tragic event and his own untimely death at the hands of his brother-in-law, a dramatic turn of events leads him to discover the truth about his past and the key to his escape and redemption.
Characters
* Sir Simon de Canterville: the ghost of a man who killed his wife;
* Mr. Otis: American ambassador and new owner of Canterville Chase;
* Margaret Umney: Canterville Chase's housekeeper;
* Virginia: Mr. Otis' daughter;
* Lucretia: Mr. Otis' wife;
* Washington: Mr. Otis' son;
* Lord Higgins: last descendant of the Canterville family who sells his castle to the Americans;
* Lord Cecil: Lord Higgin's protegé;
* Madame Des Fantomes: would-be clairvoyant.

 
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