The Mystery of Irma Vep

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The Mystery of Irma Vep is a play in two acts by Charles Ludlam. A penny dreadful, Irma Vep is a satire of several theatrical and film genres, including Victorian melodrama and the Alfred Hitchcock film Rebecca (1940). The name Irma Vep is an anagram for "vampire".

The play, despite featuring eight characters, was intended to be performed by only two actors, and is most entertaining when played in that manner. The actors play roles in both genders. The technical requirements of the show are considerable, as it requires a whirlwind of sound cues, props, special effects, and lightning-quick costume changes. The original cast consisted of Charles Ludlam and longtime companion Everett Quinton for the Ridiculous Theatrical Company. Source: Berkeley Repertory Theatre

The plot centers around Mandacrest Estate, the home of Lord Edgar and Lady Enid. Lady Enid is Lord Edgar's second wife, though he has yet to recover entirely from the passing of his first wife, Irma. The house staff, a maid named Jane Twisden and a swineherd named Nicodemus Underwood, have their own opinions of Lady Enid.

Eight characters are played on stage, including: Lady Enid, Lord Edgar Hillcrest, Jane Twisden, and Nicodemus Underwood. Minor characters Alcazar and the Mummy Pev Amri also feature.

The play includes references to (and appearances by) vampires, ghosts, mummies and werewolves. It contains the occasional jibe of an adult nature, but is largely acceptable for audiences of all ages. The play is often considered camp. Ludlam himself is quoted "Our slant was actually to take things very seriously, especially focusing on those things held in low esteem by society and revaluing them, giving them new meaning, new worth, by changing their context". (Quoted in Ridiculous Theater: Scourge of Human Folly, The Essays and Opinions of Charles Ludlam, edited by Steven Samuels.

In order to ensure cross-dressing, rights to perform the play include a stipulation that the actors must be of the same sex. In 1991, Irma Vep was the most produced play in the United States, and in 2003, it became the longest-running play ever produced in Brazil.