AUDITIONS
'Design for Living' by Noël Coward
Directed by Gill Morrell
Poster design by Jim McCauley
***Please note this is an unpaid community theatre production***
Director Gill will be holding initial auditions for our Autumn 2024 production
on
Sunday, 12th May 2024 at 6pm
&
Monday, 13th May 2024 at 7pm.
Venue: Bath Rec Pavilion - this is the green wooden building, just off William Street/Pulteney Mews.
what3words link: https://w3w.co/score.remark.pretty
You will not be able to park at the Rec without a permit. Please allow time to park as on-street parking is often limited.
Please email gillmorrell1@gmail.com in advance to book an audition slot or if you have any questions.
ABOUT THE PLAY
Design for Living is a comedy play written by Noël Coward in 1932. It concerns a trio of artistic characters, Gilda, Otto and Leo, and their complicated three-way relationship. The plot is summed up in what Leo says to Gilda: 'I love you. You love me. You love Otto. I love Otto. Otto loves you. Otto loves me. There now! Start to unravel from there.' Starting in 1930 in Paris, the play moves to London and then New York as the relationships between the central characters form and re-form.
CAST REQUIREMENTS
There are three very big parts, together with Ernest which is also a major role. The other parts are small but vital. They will involve a lot less rehearsal time, especially in early weeks. We may double the smaller roles so that each actor is in both Acts Two and Three.
Those playing Gilda, Leo and Otto need to be relaxed about physical contact with each other. While nothing will be extremely explicit, there will be frequent close and affectionate contact, probably including kissing. The auditions will explore this area, and rehearsals will be sensitively managed to develop the necessary choreography in line with character development.
Gilda - playing age 30 to 40. An indifferent interior designer, she is witty, clever, and sometimes brittle. In love with both Leo and Otto, she eventually marries Ernest who offers stability, but tires of him.
Leo - playing age 30 - 50. A writer, later a successful playwright, based on Coward himself. Witty, clever, and sometimes brittle.
Otto - playing age 30 - 50. An artist, on the brink of success. Witty, clever, and sometimes brittle.
Ernest - an art dealer. Older and much more practical and conventional than the others. He's in love with Gilda but doesn't really understand her.
Miss Hodge (Act Two only) - middle-aged, a 'daily' with a Cockney accent, respectable.
Mr Birkbeck (Act Two only) - any age, could be played as female, a newspaper reporter.
Photographer (Act Two only) - non-speaking, male or female, any age.
Grace Torrence (Act Three only) - any age, interested in design, could be played as male, US accent.
Henry Carver (Act Three only) - young to middle aged, wealthy New Yorker.
Helen Carver (Act Three only) - young to middle aged, wealthy New Yorker.