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The Players' next production will be "Confusions" a comedy by Alan Ayckbourn, directed by Chris Smith.
We last presented an Ayckbourn play back in 1996 with "Season's Greetings", so felt it time to do another by one of Britain's most successful living playwrites.
"Confusions", a series of five interconnected one-act plays, was first produced 30 years ago, and remains a regular favourite on both the professional and amateur stage. Like all of Aycbourn's work "Confusions" combines his comic take on people's behaviour with the darker side of human experience - in this instance relationships and loneliness. The result is a witty and poignant glimpse at a range of immediately recognisable characters. In 'Mother Figure' The heroine decides that if adults behave like children, then that's how they should be treated. 'Between Mouthfuls' is a slightly surreal view of quarrelling couples in a restaurant, assisted by a supremely professional waiter. Lonely Harry is the 'Drinking Companion' from hell. 'Gosforth's Fete' is the village gala where everything that can go wrong does! And in 'Talk In The Park' five unconnected and dysfunctional characters find themselves pouring out their innermost thoughts to a disinterested stranger who cannot escape.
Characters
Mother Figure
Lucy - Untidy, undressed, undmade-up, very bossy (infant teacher type). Rosemary - Frail, mousy, unconfident, timid. Terry - Lots of bluff - hale and hearty, thinks a lot of himself, bit of a swagger - fancies himself as a typical male.
Drinking Companion
Harry (Lucy's husband) - In sales (40ish), business suit, tie loose, loud, overbearing, slightly drunk, lecherous, awful laugh. Paula - 20-30s, selling perfume, well dressed - slightly tarty - plumpish. Essex type accent??? Bernice - Older than Paula. Not so vulnerable - irritated. Handles Harry much more bluntly, prepared to be rude to him. Takes charge of the situation in the end. Waiter - Typical deferential.
Between Mouthfuls
Donald Pearce - 40-50ish, rather pompous - irritable, smart, wealthy businessman - comapany director type. Emma Pearce - Smart - company director's wife - when she looses it at the end she becomes slightly more common and vitriolic. Very aware she is a Councillor. Waiter - Extremely deferential. Good timing essential. Polly - Young? - pretty, vivacious. Martin - Youngish - earnest.
Gosforth's Fete
Milly - Fresh faced, pink cheeks, undidy, unfashionable, looking harassed. Terribly enthusiastic. Emma Pearce - 2nd appearance. Smartly turned out - hat, gloves, matching bag etc. Standing in for husband. Gosforth - Landlord. Loud, hearty, red faced, shirt sleeved, sweaty - needs to sound ex-major type. Vicar - Caricature of vicar - awful laugh, toothy. Stewart Stokes - Milly's age - full scout kit - bit of an anorak - as lost control he's so angry.
A Talk In The Park
Arthur - Age? Tall, thin, long dodgy mackintosh - bird like - lonely. Beryl - Plain, glasses, a bit frumpy, aggressive, intense. Charles - Business man - any age, briefcase - suited, reading a report, Doreen - Middle-aged - untidy. Feeding birds with bread crumbs from a loaf. Ernest - Young man - gazing into space - day dreaming.
Dates for your diary
Initial read through - Wednesday 19 November, 7.30pm, Mendi's, Old Market, Wisbech Auditions - Wednesday 26 November, 7.30pm, Mendi's, Old Market, Wisbech Cast read through - Tuesday 2 December, 7.30pm, Mendi's Old Market, Wisbech Cast read through - Tuesday 9 December, 7.30pm, Mendi's Old Market, Wisbech
For more information please call Chris on 01945 467522 or 07733 230713 |