Seasons Greetings by Alan Ayckbourn – directed by Fran Kendall, from 18 October to 4 November
AUDTION: Monday 5th February at 7pm. Peninsula Theatre, Woy Woy
As there is a change in director, please feel free to audition again if you have already. All welcome.
If you can’t make the auditions, contact the director, or email us at committee@woywoylt.com.au
SYNOPSIS
Set in the 80’s, the play begins on Christmas Eve. Harvey and Bernard argue over the violence shown in a film on tv while Neville and Eddie obsess over building remote controlled Christmas tree lights; all the men largely ignoring their wives. Bernard/Phyllis; Neville/Belinda; Eddie/Pregnant Pattie.
Rachel becomes anxious over the late arrival of Clive, eventually leaving the house to look for him. When Clive arrives he meets Belinda and they swiftly develop a mutual attraction.
Throughout Christmas Day Clive grows closer to Belinda and more distant from Rachel. Finally, around midnight, after a drunken game of snakes/ladders when Belinda and Clive believe everyone has gone to bed, they attempt to have sex in the sitting room but they are thwarted when they set off a toy drumming bear which rouses everyone else.
On Boxing Day, Bernard goes through the rehearsal of a dreadful puppet show production of ‘The three Little Pigs”, but after only 2 of the 16 scenes, Harvey grabs the puppets & begins a fight, enraging Bernard.
On 27th, Clive tries to sneak off first thing in the morning but Harvey shoots him, mistaking him for a looter. Bernard incompetently pronounces him dead. When Clive recovers, he is taken to hospital, leaving Neville and Belinda together, Neville choosing to ignore what happened.
Male Characters:
- Bernard, a feeble-spirited, dogmatic, over-sensitive doctor, with strong views on non-violence and obsessed with a dismal puppet show for children. Married to Phyllis, a drunk.
- Neville, Phyllis’s straightforward brother, always busy fiddling with anything mechanical out of his shed. Belinda’s husband, sarcastic at times, affectionate at others.
- Eddie, a lacklustre and lazy man who tried to strike out on his own but failed he sucks up to his friend, Neville, for work. Pattie’s husband but attracted to Belinda. Disagrees with Pattie’s indulgence of the children, one of whom is difficult to control. Unhappy about her pregnancy. Prefers reading comics to novels.
- Clive, a young unsuccessful writer, in a non-starter relationship with Rachel. Single, shy, pleasant.
- Harvey, Neville’s uncle, a cantankerous man of military experience, who has a warped sense of humour & boasts about 30 years experience as a security officer, bemoans the collapse of society, whilst himself gorging on TV violence, much to Bernard’s annoyance.
Female characters:
- Phyllis, Bernard’s lush of a wife, whom Bernard struggles to support. Very emotional and easily stressed, she indulges in drinking while ineptly cooking. Neville’s sister.
- Belinda, endures a stale marriage to Neville, resorting to flapping about the house and constantly dressing the Christmas tree, which she enjoys. A practical, protective mother of two, she is Rachel’s sister. Full of life.
- Pattie, Eddie’s pregnant wife largely ignored, and can only nag at him and wish she were not having another child. Absorbed by her 3 young children’s needs.
- Rachel, Belinda’s anxious, emotionally fuddled sister, in a Clayton’s relationship with Clive.
To contact the director email committee@woywoylt.com.au
