Auditions

Sunday 1^st December, 7pm. Monday 2^nd December 7.30pm. Sunday 8^th December, 7.pm

Playing Dates 7^th-12^th April 2025. Rehearsals start with a readthrough on 27th January.

Comfortably ensconced in his charming Connecticut home, Sidney Bruhl, a successful writer of Broadway thrillers, is struggling to overcome a dry spell which has resulted in a string of failures and a shortage of funds.  A possible break in his fortunes occurs when he receives a script from a student in the seminar he has been conducting at a nearby college – a thriller that Sidney recognizes immediately as a potential Broadway smash.  Can Sidney take advantage of this inexperienced writer? Sidney’s plan, devised with his wife’s help, is to offer to collaborate with the student for co-credit.  Or is it?

Two-thirds thriller and one-third a devilishly clever comedy.

I would like to keep to the American characters and places, but if East Coast US accents are too difficult, I will relocate the scene to somewhere in rural England.

Characters and playing ages are:

Sidney Bruhl  50s An impressive and well-tended confident and devious man desperate to recover from the recent failures.

Myra Bruhl, Sidney’s wife, late 40s, slim and self-effacing, who has funded Sidney’s dry period from her fortune.

Clifford Anderson 20-30 An attractive young man, tall and slim if possible.

Helga Ten Dorp A stocky, strong-jawed Teutonic woman in her early fifties, a successful psychic.

Porter Milgrim, mid 50s, A solicitor who is also a friend of Sydney’s. A man of substance.

If you would like to borrow a script before the auditions, you can get one from Owen Brooks in the Theatre Office Mon-Sat 9.30 -12.30.  If you want to find out more about the play you can contact Sarah Clarke, the Director on 07804 171105 or email sarahclarke967@gmail.com

The auditions are open to anyone but if you are cast in the play or get involved in any way in the production you will be asked to become a member of the Market Harborough Drama Society.

Auditions on Sunday 5th January 12.30. Saturday 11th January 12.30. Sunday 19th January 19.00 – Call backs only if required. All in the Theatre Lounge. Playing dates 19th-24th May 2025

Readthrough Wednesday 22nd January, 19.00 Rehearsals commence Sunday 2nd February at 14.30

This tragi-comedy is about memory, loss, secrets and, above all, love. Bothered and Bewildered is described by its writer as a ‘comedy drama’; in fact, it is a clear expose’ of the devastation of dementia – the bewilderment of the sufferer and the effect on the family – and that makes a poignant, tragic story with some comic relief.

The play follows Irene and her two daughters Louise and Beth as they begin a long journey in which the girls lose their mum in spirit but not in body. As her family struggle to come to terms with her Alzheimer’s, Irene’s past passion for romantic fiction blurs with reality. She discusses with her unseen and witty companion, Barbara Cartland, how best to write her ‘memory book’, disclosing to Barbara long kept family secrets that she would never reveal to anyone else.

Characters:

Irene – Elderly widow and mother of Beth and Louise: Beth – Eldest daughter of Irene: Louise – Youngest daughter of Irene. (playing ages will be based on family fit and the dynamics of those cast).

Barbara Cartland (any age/era). Please note: I am looking for the ‘essence of Barbara – not an impression. She must be as authentic and real as all the other characters. though it would be worth checking her out on some You Tube videos to listen to her voice. Bing Videos

NHS Consultant (M or F): Community Police Officer (M or F): Consultant and Police Officer can be played by the same person or two people.

Jim (playing age 20’s): James (playing age 20’s). Jim and James must be played by the same actor.

Young Irene (playing age late teens): Shelly – Beth’s daughter, Irene’s granddaughter (playing age late teens). Young Irene and Shelly must be played by the same actor.

To express an interest in the play, or for a discussio0n about the play or characters, please contact the director, Christine Faulconbridge carichardson2391@gmail.com 07940035045.

For a copy of the script prior to auditions, please contact Sue Waller suewaller64@gmail.com 07483281644 or Owen Brooks owen.brooks@mhds.org.uk 01858 463673

Auditions are open to anyone but if you are cast in a play, or become involved in the production in anyway, you will be asked to become a member of The Market Harborough Drama Society.