GOODNIGHT MRS PUFFIN

Ethel and Henry Fordyce are preparing for the wedding of their daughter Jacky, to Victor, son of Stephen Parker, with whom Henry Fordyce is planning a business merger. Then in walks Mrs. Puffin from Clapham who announces that she saw in a dream that Jacky would not marry Victor but be ‘swep off her feet’ by another. Mrs. Puffin wanted to save the family trouble and unnecessary expense.

Jacky has a younger sister Pamela, and a brother Nicholas – ‘the ridicalus’.

The household has a maid Annie. The mysterious ‘other’ is Roger Vincent, an American business associate.

CASTING

Ethel Fordyce – lady of the house, upper middle class, old enough to be the mother of the family. She is a bit ‘fussy’ and easily rattled.

Jacky Fordyce – the bride-to-be, mid twenties(ish), attractive and ready for romance. Lively and sweet; sensible but adventurous.

Pamela Fordyce – Jacky’s younger sister. Less out-going but reliable and pleasant.

Nicholas Fordyce – young brother who works for the family company. Nicholas is the scamp of the family, pleasant and amusing and provides much of the humour in the play. He and Mrs. Puffin become soul-mates.

Annie – the maid – can be any age but most likely to be a younger person. An accent of some sort would be a good thing.

Mrs. Puffin – Cockney, 40s - 50s, mother of a large family; motherly, direct, humourous.

(Irene Handl played her in the original production)

Henry Fordyce – hearty business-man father, quite jolly but forceful.

Stephen Parker – a bit of ‘barker’ businessman. Self-made man. Determined, confident and bossy.

Victor Parker – his son. Also in the family firm, but diffident and very likeable. Not a ‘wuss’.

Roger Vincent – good-looking hero; American. Probably older than Victor but still quite a bit younger than the two fathers.

(Roger appears at the end of Act II and is then on stage for Act III)

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

Please prepare a short piece (two minutes at most) that will tend to show your character in THIS play. Shakespeare is not a good idea.

I ask for this as much to show commitment to the exercise as to show your abilities – in preparation and talent.

Make an appointment with Lynn Trainor (Director – 9817 6803) for Monday August 24 from 7.00pm at the theatre. If this date is not possible for you, maybe another date can be arranged.

Rehearsals will begin towards the end of September – two weekday evenings, and a long rehearsal on one day during the weekend. Both Parker men are not required for Act I and Roger only in Act III – which makes their rehearsal demands a good deal lighter.

It’s a fun play and we’ll have a good time!