For our next show TOP OF THE TORRENS THEATRE GROUP is planning something a little different – an entertaining and amusing play featuring an actress who retires to the peaceful country life… only to find it’s not all as peaceful as it seems! There are some great roles to fill making up the lively characters she encounters along the way…
INFORMATION NIGHT - On Tuesday April 16 (7pm), Director Steve Farrer will give us a little insight into his vision for this show, then we’ll have a read through of the script.
AUDITIONS – will follow on Thursday April 18, from 7pm.
REGISTER at https://tott-tg.com.au/register/
Any enquiries: Steve 0458 752 020 or Kate 0400 441 042
A BAD YEAR FOR TOMATOES by John Patrick is a comedy play set in the small town of Beaver Haven in New England, America. The action occurs in Myra Marlowe's living room of her small, rented house. It is set in the 1970’s.
Gracious, glamorous Myra Marlowe, fed up with fame after a very long career as a television actress, retreats to the small town of Beaver Haven, Vermont, planning to live quietly and anonymously, write her juicy autobiography, and grow her own tomatoes.
The complaints of her faithful agent and less faithful lover, Tom Lamont, that she is throwing herself away on a backwards backwater of a town, fall on deaf ears, until she gets to know her neighbours: Reba and Cora, the Hospitality Ladies, full of rapid fire gossip and rapid fire questions; woodcutter Piney, impressively bearded and smelling of the great outdoors, who terrifies his victims with the force of his sales pitch, and Willa Mae Wilcox, the widow woman with the purple shutters on her house, who put a voodoo curse on her husband.
With these colourful characters inviting themselves over at every hour of the day, Myra gets no time to write, and in frustration, invents a dangerous, mentally disturbed sister -- based on her first, best-known TV role, Sis Sadie -- to frighten away her neighbours and give her some peace and quiet.
However, the upstanding citizens of Beaver Haven react in unexpected ways to Sadie’s shrill, childlike charms and sad plight, and before her charade is over, Myra finds herself accused of murder! A Bad Year for Tomatoes, John Patrick’s ridiculously clever comedy, with brisk and uproarious dialogue and sharply comedic characters, is a delight for actors and audiences alike.
CHARACTERS
MYRA MARLOWE:
Pre-cast A retired actress. Approx 817 lines
TOM LAMONT:
Myra's long-standing agent and business manager. He is charismatic, and persuasive. In love with Myra. Any American accent. Has approx 176 lines
CORA GUMP:
A welcome committee lady. Loves drinking. Neighbour to Myra. Loves gossiping and being nosy. New England American accent. Approx 175 lines.
REBA HARPER:
A welcome committee lady. Nosy, chatty, gossipy neighbour to Myra. Likes cooking and knitting New England American accent. Approx 211 lines
PINEY:
Local crazy character of Beaver Haven. Skunk catcher, wood chopper, manure and nut seller. Appears dim but is sharp when it comes to selling his goods. Has grubby appearance and normally carries an axe. Can hang around like a bad smell. Falls in love with Myra's invented crazy sister. New England American drawl. Approx 183 lines
WILA MAE WILCOX:
Local witch and occultist, into Voodoo curses and alternative remedies. Tells fortunes. Goes under split doors rather than through doors. New England American accent. Approx 131 lines
SHERIFF:
Local law man called in to investigate a suspected murder. New England American accent. Approx 45 lines
MYRA'S OFF STAGE RECORDER VOICE:
Read from script backstage wings.
FULL BACKSTAGE CREW. SET BUILDERS AND PAINTERS. REHEARSAL PROMPT. FRONT OF HOUSE. PROPS. COSTUMES. ALL NEEDED AND TREASURED!
INFO NIGHT / READ THROUGH script - Tuesday April 16th at 7pm in the Pentelows Road, Mount Pleasant clubrooms.
AUDITIONS - Thursday April 18th at the clubrooms, starting at 7pm
Rehearsals will be Tuesdays and Thursdays 7pm to 10pm
Sunday 23rd June: 9am - 5pm Bump in.
Tuesday 25th June: 7:30pm - 9pm Rehearsal/Setup
Thursday 27th June: 7:30pm - 9pm Rehearsal/Setup
Sunday 30th June: 2pm - 5pm Dress Rehearsal/Setup
Tuesday 2nd July: 7:30pm - 9pm Dress Rehearsal/Setup
Thursday 4th July: 7:30pm - 9pm Dress Rehearsal/Setup
Friday 5th July: 7:30pm - 10pm Show
Saturday 6th July: 2pm - 4:30pm Show
Sunday 7th July: 2pm - 4:30pm Show
Tuesday 9th July: 7:30pm - 9pm Rehearsal
Thursday 11th July: 7:30pm - 9pm Rehearsal
Saturday 13th July: 2pm - 4:30pm Show
Sunday 14th July: 2pm - 4:30pm Show - 4:30pm to 8pm Bump out.
Any enquiries: Steve 0458 752 020 or Kate 0400 441 042
Find Top of the Torrens Theatre Group on Facebook,
or at www.tott-tg.com.au
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