Synopsis

The play is a musical reconstruction of incidents relating to the East End murders which took place between Friday, August 31st and Friday, November 9th, 1888. A solution of Jack the Ripper's identity is hinted at, but the play is an atmospheric commentary rather than an historical re-enactment, shifting between reality and artificiality, with characters representing "real" people as well as members of the music hall audience and players. It is an essential feature that some characters are called upon to play more than one role. They thus have a life within the Music Hall and also in reality. The Chairman also plays the authoritative roles of Sir Charles Warren, the Magistrate, and the Dock's Foreman, while Montague Druitt is also known as Toynbee and plays the villain in the melodrama and the magician.

The cast.

The cast are on stage for much of the play, being involved both as the audience in the Music Hall scenes and as inhabitants of Whitechapel.

Singing Principals

Polly, Marie, Annie, Lizzie, Martha. The Chairman and Police Sergeant Coles.

Other Principals .....Montague, Daniel, Dinky, Bluenose, Slop and Lord Overcoat.

The Scenes

The fore-stage area represents a Victorian Music Hall with tables, chairs, and a table for the Chairman. Where possible this should be extended into the auditorium in order to link the Audience closely with the Music Hall scenes. Upstage of this is a raised area framed with a false proscenium decorated with lights, which are brought up when a Music Act is being performed. The area beyond represents the "real" streets of Whitechapel

Character Notes for Jack the Ripper

Background

With the rapid growth of London in the Industrial Revolution there was a large influx of migrants into an already crowded area. These immigrants were refugees from the Irish Potato Famine and the Pogroms against the Jews in Eastern Europe.

The overcrowding caused much tension. Toynbee Hall was a kind of University where graduates from Oxford and Cambridge could continue their studies whilst at the same time learning to understand and do good works with the under privileged in the East End. Montague Druitt was one of these hence his nickname Toynbee.

Ladies of the night.

With the exception of Polly Ann Nichols all these parts will be best served by ladies of mature age.

Marie Kelly The largest part in the show. Marie raised in the East End has known Dan from childhood. She protects Annie.Sings duet with Liz.

Liz Stride also Queen Victoria Keeps the local Doss House. Independent & hard. Sings the duet with Marie and plays Queen Victoria in Music Hall

Annie Chapman "The under-dog. Put upon by Dan, ignored by Liz helped by Marie. Comic scene with the Sergeant, also in ""Rippers going to get you"". Murdered end act 1"

Polly Ann Nicholls "Opens show with ""Saturday Night"". Murdered in Magic Scene. " Was about 16 years old going on 40 when she died.

Liza Pearl (Pearl) "Solo verse in ""What a life"" (page 16), solo piece in ""Look at them"" (page 32)"

Martha Tabram "Solo verses in ""God Bless Us""(page 9) and in ""What a life"" (page 16), and in ""Suspects"" (page 38)"

Catherine Eddowes "Solo verses in ""God Bless Us""(page 9) and in ""What a life"" (page 16)"

Francis Cole Dialogue on page 5 and 27. Chorus singing but no solo.

Note: All ladies take part in all chorus numbers before and after being murdered. After their murder they change costume and continue as someone else.

Men

Montague Druitt (Toynbee) Always carries his bible. Carries himself stiffly, self opinionated do-gooder. Possible contenderer for the murderer. Plays the magician."

Chairman also Judge, Dock Foreman, Police Chief. Chairman of the music hall. Acts the dock foreman. Music hall Judge and Police Chief (Warren).

Daniel Mendoza. Head of the gang. Charismatic, tough, definitely leader of this group of pimps."

Bluenose Stack Sings solo in ""Suspects" the part of Duke Albert (page 38), plenty of dialogue and chorus work. Not too bright, plays the heavy.

Slop Wallace (heavy) Sings solo in ""Suspects"" the Demon Barber (page 37), plenty of dialogue & chorus work." Not too bright, plays the heavy.

Dinky Nine-Eights The other possible young cast member. The lively member of the gang, young, pert, models himself on Dan. (Can be trouser part.)

Lord Overcoat Jewish Barrow Boy. Needs to look of mature age with make-up if necessary. Able to read & write, unlike the gang.

Sergeant Coles Does one scene with Annie. Does the "Womens Clothes" quartet. Otherwise dressed in mufti throughout and joins in chorus work."

Policeman (Man) Does "Women's Clothes" otherwise in mufti joins in chorus numbers. Plays other characters as necessary."

Trouser part = mans part played by a female.