Twits, A Steampunk Distraction

Cyril Chippington-Smythe (Michael Urie), eligible bachelor and the world's richest man is living a life of ease, attended by his resourceful steam-powered valet Bentley (Dakin Matthews). When the toothy Alice Witherspoon (Helen Cespedes) invades his breakfast room determined to marry him whether he will or no, Bentley concocts a scheme to transfer her affections to Cyril's freeloading cousin- the hapless Binky (Christian Borle), Alas, Alice has ulterior motives that may lead to the destruction of civilization. Whose plot will emerge victorious? There are shoals and pitfalls aplenty, like Cyril's imperious Aunt Hypatia (Mary Testa) who demands that he marry and produce an heir. The shy but brilliant Pansy (Kiera Allen) is roped into the plot and impersonates Binky's fictitious fiancee, Gardenia. Ahmed Ben Fitzwilliam (James Monroe Iglehart), the imperious Club Hatter, rules over the dictates of fashion at Cyril's club, “Twits” and, weaving through it all, is the improbable C. Langford Cheeseworth (Stephen DeRosa), a shiny-headed habitue of “Twits” whose eccentricities of accent come and go according to his whim.

Cyril Chippington-Smythe (Michael Urie) never met a wager he didn't like. When his old friends, Ford (Nik Walker) and Lincoln (James Rana), bet him that he can't survive living like an average citizen named “Johny” for a week he jumps in with both feet and his cousin Binky (Christian Borle) jumps with him. Alas, Bentley (Dakin Matthews) must stay at home or his secret identity will be impossible to conceal. Guided by his grocery delivery-person, Ernie (Fergie L Philippe), Cyril attempts to blend in with the crush of humanity but without Bentley's help he soon finds himself embroiled in one misunderstanding after another.

No literary work is created in a vacuum. Those who are generous enough to read and listen to a work in progress and offer the gold of their opinions deserve a special thanks (in lieu of cash payments).

My heartfelt thanks to: (In no particular order)

• The members of my writers group- Lab405 for years of love and support.
• Noreen O’Neill for her wisdom and generosity.
• Nick Sullivan, who started me on my Twits journey, for his excellent navigational advice.
• Samuel D. Hunter for fulgent and generous conversations over coffee.
• Dori Berinstein who had faith.
• Brittany Bigelow who moved mountains.
• Alan Seales for his preternatural hearing.
• Brett Ashleigh for their superlative sound editing
• Eric Wright for his imagination and comic timing.
• The glorious company of actors without whom these plays would lie panting in the street like a mutt in a heat wave.