by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon
Directed by Sarah Lovesy
This play is a delicious romantic comedy with plenty of drama. It draws its inspiration from Jane Austin’s beloved 1813 novel Pride and Prejudice.
Mary Bennet, the middle sister goes to spend Christmas with her sisters Lizzy, Jane, their husbands Darcy, and Bingley at Pemberley – the grand estate. Lydia the giggling younger sister also joins them. Mary is bookish, seriously scientific, a virtuoso on the pianoforte and is misunderstood. She had no interest in matrimony until the arrival of the equally bookish and socially inept Lord Arthur de Bourgh. Their growing attraction is awkward and clumsy. It is full of misunderstandings caused at times by Lydia’s flirtatious antics, Anne de Bourgh’s social snobbery as well as their own emotional incompetencies. The play centres around family dynamics, societal expectations, and personal growth. It is set in 1815. The Regency Period.
Audition Date and Time
Monday 8th April AND Wednesday 10th April at 7:00 pm for 7:30pm.
Registration 7.00pm for a 7.30pm start.
The Peninsula Theatre (home of Woy Woy Little Theatre), John Hoare Cl, Woy Woy 2256
Open auditions. Everyone is welcome, no need to book. Audition pieces below.
Venue: Rehearsals will be held at The Peninsula Theatre, John Hoare Cl, Woy Woy 2256
Performance details
Performance dates are 25th October – 10th November 2024.
Characters
Characters – Four females and three males. Age range indicative only:
- Mary Bennet – 20 to 30 years.
Finally coming in to her own, she is no longer the plain, boring girl she once was although she is still a bit gawkish. She has a fire in her now. She is intelligent, curious and lively but her family only sees her as a future spinster. She does not suffer fools. She plays the pianoforte like a virtuoso. - Lord Arthur de Bourgh – 25 to 35 years.
A studious, unsociable only child who has never been around women or large families. He is a loner who prefers books to people. He has recently inherited a large estate and has no idea what to do next. He is a good curious and kind man but is socially inept. - Elizabeth Darcy (Lizzy) – 22 to 32 years.
Married to Mr. Darcy. Confident, charming, and witty. She makes a fun and surprising lady of the Pemberley household. She is best friends with her sister Jane but cannot initially see how her middle sister Mary has grown into a interesting and beautiful women. - Fitzwilliam Darcy – 30 to 40 years.
A loving, generous and smart (if slightly stiff) husband. He is quiet and vigilant and thus sees what others often miss. He knows what being lovelorn is like. - Jane Bingley – 24 to 34 years.
Married to Mr. Bingley. She is seven months pregnant with her first child and is sweet and optimistic as ever. The kindest heart in the house. There is a great goodness inside her. - Charles Bingley – 25 to 35 years.
Gracious, happy, and ever focused on the love of his life, Jane. A good friend and always ready with a smile. He is a lively man but always with decorum. He still can’t stop smiling at the fact that he has married the love of his life Jane and that he is about to become a Father. - Lydia Wickham – 17 to 27 years. Flirtatious, youthful, self-centred. She is the person you want to have at your party; energetic, engaging, unstoppable. Lydia loves to giggle and laugh at life which she still does although her marriage is a sham, but she will not admit this.
- Anne de Bourgh –25 to 35 years.
Only daughter of the late Lady Catherine de Bourgh. She has lived in her mother’s very large shadow, never having to ask for anything or speaking for herself. She is judgemental, impatient, sharp and critical but also very vulnerable. She does not understand what it means to be part of a happy family.
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Download Audition Pieces below
Act 1
Act 1 Scene 1 Lizzy, Darcy – pages 10, 11, 12 to when they kiss.
Act 1 Scene 3 Mary, Arthur – pages 20, 21, 22, 23 to Lydia’s arrival.
Act 1 Scene 3 Mary, Lydia, Lizzy, Jane – pages 26, 27, 28 to when the men enter.
Act 1 Scene 4 Mary, Arthur – pages 30, 31, 32, 33 to when Mary exits.
Act 1 Scene 6 Mary, Arthur – pages 36, 37 to where Lydia enters.
Act 1 Scene 7 Arthur, Darcy, Bingley – pages 38, 39, 40, 41.
Act 1 Scene 8 Arthur, Lydia – pages 43, 44 to when Mary speaks.
Act 11
Act 11 Scene 1 Anne, Mary, Arthur, – pages 47, 48, 49.
Act 11 Scene 2 Arthur, Darcy, Bingley – pages 50, 51, 52.
Act 11 Scene 3 Jane, Lydia, Lizzy – pages 56, 57. From when Arthur exits to Anne’s entrance.
Act 11 Scene 3 Anne, Lizzy, Mary – pages 57, 58, 59. From Anne’s entrance to Darcy’s entrance.
Act 11 Scene 3 Anne, Mary, Arthur– pages 65, 66, 67, 68. From Anne’s entrance to end of scene.
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BUT anyone auditioning for the below three characters please also prepare:
- Lizzy:
- Page 10 to say some of your dialogue to Darcy whilst waltzing or dancing the polka around your Christmas Tree. Tchaikovsky: Eugene Onegin, Op. 24, Act 2: Waltz
- Mary:
- Pages 17, 18 to play on an imaginary pianoforte and sing the chorus of Nobody’s Coming To Marry Me. This is an English Irish folk tune actually called Hedger and Ditcher.
- Page 28 twenty seconds of virtuoso playing on an imaginary pianoforte of Sonata No. 14, in C sharp Minor, Op 27, No 2. “Moonlight”: 111. Presto agitato. Beethoven.
- Lydia
- A thirty second flirtatious Regency Reel she is practising to show Lord Arthur de Bourgh. It is to Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly. Joy to the World. 101 Strings (Orchestra). The Finest Selection of Christmas Carols & Holiday Songs.
- NB: There are a number of Regency Reel Videos on the net.
Contact Sarah on sarah.lovesy@bigpond.com for a copy of the music.
Rehearsals etc:
- Rehearsals start on 23d July 2024. They will be every Tuesday and Thursday night from 7.30pm.
- We will need a Sunday rehearsal towards the end of the process. Date to be decided.
- There is a technical rehearsal on Sunday 20th October 2024.
- Play opens for three weeks from Friday 25th October 2024.
Any questions or more information from Sarah please phone on 0407467643 or email sarah.lovesy@bigpond.com
Look forward to seeing you at the auditions.