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Casting
← Back to Canterbury Tales
Cast Size: Flexible Cast Size
Cast Type: Ensemble Cast
Dance Requirements: Standard
Character Breakdown
Chaucer
The narrator to the tale as a whole, he sets the story up and then wraps it up in the end. Doubles as Justinus in "Merchant's Tale."
Gender: male
Age: 65 to 75
Host
Exactly as his title proclaims, he is very much the host of the pilgrimage to Canterbury. Often times the peacekeeper among the Pilgrims themselves.
Gender: male
Age: 30 to 50
Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: B3
Miller
A rowdy drunkard, the Miller does not get along with the Steward and is insistent that he tell his story first. Doubling includes: Gervase, Miller, Pluto.
Gender: male
Age: 35 to 45
Vocal range top: F5
Vocal range bottom: E4
Wife Of Bath
A jovial older woman, whose moral compass is perhaps a little looser than that of the other women on the pilgrimage. She is well traveled and well versed in the ways of both the world, and the men who inhabit it. Doubles as Old Woman in "Wife of Bath's Tale."
Gender: female
Age: 55 to 65
Vocal range top: G5
Vocal range bottom: A3
Cook
An avid eater, he is most excited about the food to be found in Canterbury.
Gender: male
Age: 55 to 65
Merchant
A bit of a snob, the Merchant frequently sides with the Steward and strongly dislikes the Miller. He also argues with the Wife of Bath on the proper subservience of a woman to her husband.
Gender: male
Age: 45 to 55
Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: D4
Knight
A calm, gentle man who has seen his glory days come and go. He is an optimist with a generally happy outlook on life. Doubles as King Arthur in "Wife of Bath's Tale."
Gender: male
Age: 40 to 50
Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: D4
Steward
A cranky pessimist, the Steward always has something to complain about. He also greatly dislikes the Miller. Doubling includes: Carpenter, January
Gender: male
Age: 45 to 55
Prioress
A middle-aged woman. Dignified, graceful, and tenderhearted. Doubling includes: Proserpina, Queen.
Gender: female
Age: 35 to 45
Vocal range top: A5
Vocal range bottom: B3
Nun
Deeply religious, the Nun is very much a traditionalist, and in being so often comes off as being a snob. Doubling includes: Miller's Wife, Duenna.
Gender: female
Age: 50 to 60
Vocal range top: F5
Vocal range bottom: A3
Priest
A quiet man, he is greatly focused on the task at hand - the pilgrimage to Canterbury. Double as Placebo in the "Merchant's Tale."
Gender: male
Age: 30 to 40
Clerk
A learned man and very much a traditionalist, he argues with the Wife of Bath, but unlike others, more from a cerebral standpoint than an emotional one. Doubling includes: Absalon, John, Young Knight.
Gender: male
Age: 30 to 40
Squire
Humble in nature, the Squire very much looks up to the Knight. Doubling includes: Nicholas, Damian.
Gender: male
Age: 20 to 30
Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: E4
Friar
The opposite of what one might think of as a typical Friar, he sees no sense in looking after the poor and unfortunate and is preoccupied with young ladies.
Gender: male
Age: 40 to 55
Pardoner
Part of a team with the Summoner, he pardons the sins of those the Summoner has summoned for a cash fee. Doubling includes: Priest, Placebo.
Gender: male
Age: 30 to 40
Vocal range top: C5
Vocal range bottom: E4
Summoner
Part of a team with the Pardoner, he summons sinners and then sends them to Pardoner to pay to be pardoned of their sins.
Gender: male
Age: 25 to 35
Vocal range top: C5
Vocal range bottom: E4
Nicholas
The Carpenter's lodger and a poor arts student who is known for his bawdy songs. He is a tricky fellow, who schemes against the Carpenter in order to sleep with his wife. Played by actor cast as Squire.
Gender: male
Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: B3
Allison
The Carpenter's beautiful, young wife who is seduced into an affair with Nicholas. Though she seems innocent, she is quite sneaky. Doubling includes: Molly, May.
Gender: female
Vocal range top: C5
Vocal range bottom: F3
Carpenter
A rich, old carpenter who is easily duped by his lodger. Though he is very jealous in regards to his wife, he is also overly trusting and very religious. Played by actor cast as Steward.
Gender: male
Vocal range top: C5
Vocal range bottom: F4
Absalon
Overly joyous and jolly, Absalon tries to resist Allison's beauty because she is married and he knows it would be wrong. In the end, however, he cannot resist. Played by actor cast as Clerk.
Gender: male
Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: E4
Gervase
Gervase is the blacksmith. An honest man, he takes care not to meddle in other people's business. Played by actor cast Miller.
Gender: male
Miller's Wife
Though she is said to be of noble birth, she is actually the daughter of a sinful priest. She is loyal to her husband and fully aware and supportive of his thieving ways. Played by actor cast as Nun.
Gender: female
Vocal range top: F5
Vocal range bottom: E4
Molly
Pretty and voluptuous, Molly is the daughter of the Miller. She goes along with her father's thieving ways until Alan seduces her and she gives him back his corn meal. Doubling includes: Alison, May.
Gender: female
Vocal range top: F5
Vocal range bottom: E4
Alan
A young student determined to not let the Miller steal their school's corn. He is smart and witty. Played by actor cast as Squire.
Gender: male
Vocal range top: F5
Vocal range bottom: E4
John
A young student who is determined to not let the Miller steal their school's corn. Though he is smart and quick witted, he is Alan's sidekick. Played by actor cast as Clerk.
Gender: male
Vocal range top: F5
Vocal range bottom: E4
January
A bachelor in his old age, he decides he wants a wife and heir before he dies. He is jealous and lustful with his young wife. Played by actor cast as Steward.
Gender: male
Vocal range top: F5
Vocal range bottom: D4
Justinus
An old friend of January's. Justinus does the exact opposite of Placebo when January questions him about taking a wife. He is cautious and skeptical. Played by actor cast as Chaucer.
Gender: male
Placebo
An old friend of January's, Placebo placates him and tells January everything he wants to hear when being questioned about whether or not to take a wife. Played by actor cast as Priest / Pardoner.
Gender: male
May
January's virginal young wife. Though she pretends to be a good and faithful wife to January, she is having an affair with the servant, Damian. Doubling includes: Allison, Molly.
Gender: female
Age: 18 to 25
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: D4
Damian
January's servant. Though he starts out trying to be loyal to January, he cannot resist his love and lust for his master's wife, May, and seduces her with his poetry into having an affair. Played by actor cast as Squire.
Gender: male
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: D4
Pluto
The King of Hades and a frequent visitor to January's secret garden, Pluto believes that women are more treacherous and lethal than men in their behavior. He and his wife continually argue on the matter. Played by actor cast as Miller.
Gender: male
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: E4
Proserpina
The Queen of Hades and a frequent visitor to January's secret garden. Proserpina believes that men are much less faithful than women. She and her husband continually argue over the matter. Played by actor cast as Prioress.
Gender: female
Vocal range top: C5
Vocal range bottom: E4
King Arthur
The stately King who defers to his Wife when she asks it of him. Played by actor cast as Knight.
Gender: male
Queen
Graceful and smart, she is more lenient in courtly matters than her husband, King Arthur. Played by actor cast as Prioress.
Gender: female
Old Woman
Secretly a beautiful young girl looking for true love, she tricks the Knight into agreeing to do whatever she says in return for the answer to a riddle he must solve. Played by actor cast as Wife of Bath.
Gender: female
Ensemble
Attendants, Bridesmaids, Villagers, Pilgrims, Executioners