Our next production will be 2 short plays
a drama tbc & a comedy (below)
to be performed outside
on Friday 21st - Sunday 23rd May 2021
PRIDE AT SOUTHANGER PARK
by Rupert Bean
The action takes place in the living room of Southanger Park, the ancestral seat of Sir Thomas & Lady Fanny Bottomley in Hampshire in 1820.
The third play in Coarse Acting Strikes Back is supposedly an adaptation of a long-lost Jane Austen novel, presenting a naturally developing hilarious set of acting disasters. As the performance crumbles into low farce, the cast plough on, determined to prove themselves the equal of any BBC adaptation.
by Rupert Bean
The action takes place in the living room of Southanger Park, the ancestral seat of Sir Thomas & Lady Fanny Bottomley in Hampshire in 1820.
The third play in Coarse Acting Strikes Back is supposedly an adaptation of a long-lost Jane Austen novel, presenting a naturally developing hilarious set of acting disasters. As the performance crumbles into low farce, the cast plough on, determined to prove themselves the equal of any BBC adaptation.
CAST REQUIREMENTS
Like all comedy, but particularly with spoofs, it’s all in the timing, facial expressions and caricature-like performances….
The description in italics is the character in the play; the lines underneath describe the actor.
MEN
Sir Thomas Bottomley: 50+ Cecily’s uncle
Played by a younger actor who thinks his character should be grandiose and pompous. His real wife is about to give birth so he has a concealed mobile on him. Very highly strung; terrible in a crisis.
Reverend Giles Henry : any age. the vicar
Thinks that as a member of the clergy he should carry a Bible and crucifix and cross the air for no reason whatsoever.
William Squires : stage age 25 – 35. Cecily’s tutor.
Can’t act and only given the role because his dad made a donation to the group.
Suffers appalling stage fright.
Marcus D’Angelo : stage age 25 – 35. Loveable rogue and Cecily’s suitor.
Actor who is very full of himself… modelling the character on Colin Firth, complete with sideburns and tight trousers…
Tends to address all his lines to the audience.
LADIES
Cecily Chichester : stage age 18; orphan
Very attractive actress. Ken, new to the group. Anxious to shine.
Lady Fanny Bottomley: stage age 40+ Thomas’ wife.
Actually quite a decent actress, though let down by the incompetents around her.
Gladys : any age; the maid
Very coarse actress from the Midlands or the North, complete with chip on her shoulder
FOH manager : any age
Jobsworth. Loud, bossy voice. Totally ignorant of theatre and unaware of the destruction she causes.
Mrs Squires : 50+ and can be played by a man. William Squires’ mother.
If played by a woman, needs a “common” accent but tries to talk posh (bad casting but there was no choice). If played by a man, he should do his Dame role from the last panto.
Like all comedy, but particularly with spoofs, it’s all in the timing, facial expressions and caricature-like performances….
The description in italics is the character in the play; the lines underneath describe the actor.
MEN
Sir Thomas Bottomley: 50+ Cecily’s uncle
Played by a younger actor who thinks his character should be grandiose and pompous. His real wife is about to give birth so he has a concealed mobile on him. Very highly strung; terrible in a crisis.
Reverend Giles Henry : any age. the vicar
Thinks that as a member of the clergy he should carry a Bible and crucifix and cross the air for no reason whatsoever.
William Squires : stage age 25 – 35. Cecily’s tutor.
Can’t act and only given the role because his dad made a donation to the group.
Suffers appalling stage fright.
Marcus D’Angelo : stage age 25 – 35. Loveable rogue and Cecily’s suitor.
Actor who is very full of himself… modelling the character on Colin Firth, complete with sideburns and tight trousers…
Tends to address all his lines to the audience.
LADIES
Cecily Chichester : stage age 18; orphan
Very attractive actress. Ken, new to the group. Anxious to shine.
Lady Fanny Bottomley: stage age 40+ Thomas’ wife.
Actually quite a decent actress, though let down by the incompetents around her.
Gladys : any age; the maid
Very coarse actress from the Midlands or the North, complete with chip on her shoulder
FOH manager : any age
Jobsworth. Loud, bossy voice. Totally ignorant of theatre and unaware of the destruction she causes.
Mrs Squires : 50+ and can be played by a man. William Squires’ mother.
If played by a woman, needs a “common” accent but tries to talk posh (bad casting but there was no choice). If played by a man, he should do his Dame role from the last panto.
