A SAMUEL FRENCH, LTD. TITLE

Bellamy

Full-Length Play, Comedy  /  4w, 5m

Anthony Armstrong, Arnold Ridley

Tired of the uncertainties of the acting profession, Bellamy has become the butler to Sir George and Lady Wareham. He is most put out when their son Dick turns up with his estranged wife saying they are engaged. The Wareham's daughter, Pamela, is dallying with the unsuitable Mortimer. Their eccentric American neighbour, Hector accidentally shoots Pamela and when, after a series of burglaries in the area, Sir George suspects Bellamy of perpetrating them, it takes all his know-how to sort everything out.

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    4w, 5m
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Farce
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for all audiences

Details

Summary
A house like Sir George Wareham's Barwell Towers needs a butler deluxe; and Bellamy fills the bill. In fact, he is too good to be true. No real-life butler could achieve the know-how and aplomb of Bellamy; only years of laying stage butlers could produce such a polish. Bellamy, separated from his wife, Mavis, and tired of the uncertainty of the boards, is serving sir George and Lady Wareham. Life at Barwell Towers is not exactly smooth; what with Dick Wareham producing Amvis as his fiancée; Pamela Wareham being unofficially engaged to a specious character called Mortimer; and an American neighbour, Hector, taking pot shot at birds and winging Pamela by mistake. Then there are burglaries in the district, and Bellamy is suspected by sir George because his referees can’t be traced in Who’s Who. But Bellamy hardly flinches, and continues to keep his capable hands on the strings; if there is one thing that cracks his façade, ever so slightly, it’s the fact that mavis wants a divorce to marry Dick. For Bellamy still loves Mavis. In the end, however, he manages to convince her that she still loves him too, saves Sir George from being financially ruined by Mortimer, and in doing so wins Pamela for Hector – who is, by the way, an American millionaire, and it is common knowledge how clever they are at holding the impoverished aristocracy together. 

Bellamy: the perfect butler; about 38
Sir George Wareham: explosive; about 60
Hector Robson: good looking American, about 32
Mortimer: sleek, charming; 35
Dick Wareham: ebullient; 28
Lady Wareham: vague, charming; 50
Pamela: nice; 27
Mavis: Self-possessed, pretty; 24
Pritchett: a housekeeper; 50


                               

  • Time Period 1960s
  • Setting A lounge 

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £55 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

Scripts

Available Formats:

Authors

Author

Anthony Armstrong

Arnold Ridley

ARNOLD RIDLEY, OBE (7 January 1896 – 12 March 1984)

Born in Bath – and always a proud West Countryman – Arnold Ridley is best known today for playing the part of Private Godfrey in Dad’s Army. This came at the end of a long and varied career in the theatre. He was a prol ...

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