The Ladykillers
What happens when a sweet little old lady alone in her house has to pit her wits against
a gang of criminal misfits who will stop at nothing? Based on the classic Ealing comedy
the actions spins along at a breakneck speed as a bumbling gang of criminals, posing as
musicians, try and pull off their “brilliantly conceived” heist – not if Mrs Wilberforce assisted
by her parrot General Gordon can help it! Never has bank robbery and attempted murder
been so funny!
If you want to get an idea of the character you can do no better that have a look at the original
film – though Graham Linehan develops the script so that it works a stage play.
Character information
Constable Macdonald.
He is the archetypal policeman – middle aged and friendly he is
the man that is sent out to sort out the problems that worry the
little old ladies in the neighbourhood. (Late forties early fifties)
Mrs Wilberforce.
She is an elderly widow who lives with her parrot in a house
that is beset with subsidence. She is constantly seeing danger
and escaped Nazis. She has a very strong sense of right and
wrong. Once she has the Professor and his friends in the house
she is up and down stairs to make sure they are alright and
getting in the wat of their criminal plans (Mid-seventies)
Professor Marcus.
In his own estimation he is a master criminal who always has a
plan. As the play progresses he gets more frustrated by the
ineptitude of the gang and Mrs Wilberforce’s interference and
this leads to him becoming more hyperactive. (Early forties)
Major Courtney
He is a “gentleman” if was in the army he was not a major and
was probably cashiered for embezzling the Mess funds. He has
lived as a petty con artist (Late forties)
Harry Robinson
A young spiv – light fingered and constantly taking pills for his
nerves. He thinks he is a real criminal but he is wet behind the
ears. (Late teens early twenties)
One Round
A punch drunk failed boxer now he is the muscle for criminals
he often misses the point but has a heart of gold (Late thirties
early forties)
Louis Harvey
He is a psychopath quietly spoken but menacing he is always
on the edge and ready to kill (Mid to late thirties)
Mrs Tromleyton
An elderly lady and friend of Mrs Wilberforce. She thinks she
is a cut above her friend (Seventies) – this is a small part but
fun
Mrs Wilberforce’s Guests
they do not have specific lines but will need to swarm and
twitter around the gang and make their presence felt – they
bring a degree of chaos to the end of Act One