Auditions

SYNOPSIS
Home and Beauty is a farcical comedy about society’s changing attitudes toward marriage in the aftermath of the First World War.

First performed in 1919, it tells the story of wealthy and attractive socialite Victoria who finds herself married to two men when she mistakenly believes her first husband to have been killed in WW1 and promptly marries his best friend. Hilarity ensues as she attempts to choose between the two and to secure a divorce.

Women:
VICTORIA: (20 to 40) lady of the house and principal role throughout the play, RP English. Shallow, self-centred and yet still entirely adorable. A contemporary equivalent might be someone like Alexa from Schitt’s Creek
MISS DENNIS: (18-30s) manicurist, regional accent (act 1)
MRS SHUTTLEWORTH: (middle aged to elderly) Mother of Victoria. Act 1 and 2. Well spoken. A typical Victorian lady.
MRS POGSON: (any age) A working class “respectable woman” applies for job as cook. Doesn’t suffer fools easily. (Act 2 Comedic cameo role)
MISS MONTMORENCY: (30s-50s). Hyacinth-Bucket accent. Overly refined and proper. (Act 3 comedic cameo)
TAYLOR: (any age) female servant of the house, amalgam of parlour maid and Taylor (act 1 and 2)
NANNY: (any age) the children’s nursemaid (act 1)
Men:
FREDERICK: (20s to 40s) Army officer married to Victoria. Best friend of William. Upright boy next door type.
WILLIAM: (20s to 40s) Victoria’s first husband, “killed” in WWI best friend of Frederick. Charming, cheeky, good humoured.
LEICESTER PATON: (20s to 50s) Well spoken, well dressed, extremely wealthy businessman, (Acts 1 and 2).
MR A B RAHAM: (any age) Divorce solicitor. (Act 3 comedic cameo)
CLARENCE: delivery boy, small scene end of Act 3

Note to all actors: Auditions will be held in a relaxed, open format. There is no need for a CV or headshot, but you will be asked to fill in a short form listing your contact details and availability on the day. There are several fun (I daresay scene-stealing?) roles that require the actor for one act only (the play is a 3 act play). These roles may be doubled, or alternatively, they may appeal to actors whose circumstances are better suited to a shorter but more dedicated rehearsal period.

For a copy of the script or if you have any questions, please email the director Desiree Munro at munrode@hotmail.com

Auditions on Sunday 25th October 2:00pm and Monday 26th October 7:00pm