“HOW THE OTHER HALF LOVES”

AUDITIONS :- “HOW THE OTHER HALF LOVES” a comedy by Alan Ayckbourn directed by Pat Barton Sunday 16th December 2007 at 2.00pm at Harbour Theatre How The Other Half Loves concerns three couples: Frank and Fiona Foster; Bob and Teresa Phillips; William and Mary Featherstone. Frank employs both Bob and William and is considering promoting the latter. Bob is having an affair with Frank’s wife Fiona and is in constant conflict with his own wife, Teresa. She feels Bob is neglecting her while she raises their baby and is suspicious of his actions and phantom phone-calls made to the house. When he returns late, she confronts him about his actions and he lies that he has been comforting work associate William, who believes his wife Mary is having an affair. Frank and Fiona’s relationship is in stark contrast to the torrid emotions of Bob and Teresa’s. They share a polite, distant and evasive relationship and when Frank asks Fiona where she has also been, she says she has been comforting Mary - who she barely knows - who apparently believes William is having an affair. Of course, William and Mary are innocent parties and neither of the adulterers realise they have both implicated the Featherstones in their alibis. Both parties swear their partners to secrecy - particularly as both couples are entertaining the Featherstones on successive nights. With the couples seeming to be on the verge of splitting up it comes to it’s hilarious conclusion with total confusion due to Franks clumsy efforts to clear the air. CHARACTERS REQUIRED (ages shown only as a guide so if you are outside the range please still audition) :- Frank Foster (45-60yo) The boss at work. William and Bob are his employees. Quite fussy and somewhat vague, giving the audience the impression of how did he get to be the boss. Spends his time at home doing odd jobs ineffectually and would not win prizes for your ideal husband. Fiona Foster (40 -55yo) Frank’s wife. Beautifully dressed elegant woman. Not that Frank would notice. Everything about her house would be a statement of her immaculate taste. Somewhat condescending of William and Bob and their wives, but feels she has to put on a good show for them when they visit. Teresa (25-35yo) Bob’s very attractive young wife. Very frustrated with Bob at being housebound with their son Benjy. Would love to go out more (ANYWHERE). Fiery tempered especially with Bob but very good hearted and able to give good advice to the Featherstones. Bob (25-35yo) Loud mouthed boozy husband of a few years – father of Benjy a 2 year old (does not appear). Leaves the parenting mainly to his wife while he goes to the pub with his mates. Definitely a chancer – if any opportunity presents itself to him. Mary Featherstone (30 – 55yo) Very anxious nervous wife with no social graces at all. Always seeking approval particularly from her husband. Has no sense of occasion and is colour uncoordinated. Very doubtful if she will ever become a mother. William Featherstone (30 – 55yo) Frank’s earnest Accountant. Can’t see beyond the balance sheet. Only vaguely aware of what is happening around him. Obviously out to impress his boss and Fiona but laughs in the wrong places and makes inappropriate comments. An arch controller and manipulator of his poor wife Mary. For more information please contact Pat Barton on (08) 9336 3316