Dangerous Corner by JB Priestley Audition Notes

Reading Wednesday June 20th 7.45pm in the Village Hall Committee Room Audition Sunday July 8th 3.30pm in the Village Hall Rehearsals Start on or after Tuesday Sept 11th. Main rehearsals are usually late afternoon on Sundays, with midweek rehearsals, as required, on the day that works best for cast Production 21st – 24th November 2018 at 8pm Directors Nan Newberry 01442 843155 [email protected] Jackie Tannett 01442 842789 [email protected]

Synopsis Dangerous Corner was the first play that Priestley wrote on his own. (He had collaborated previously with the dramatization of his novel The Good Companions.) Dangerous Corner is set in the 1930s - Robert and Freda Caplan are hosting a dinner party for close friends and colleagues at their country house. The men are all directors of a very successful publishing house which was established by Freda’s father. A chance remark by Olwen Peel sparks the demand for the truth by Robert, with devastating consequences, as clandestine relationships and secrets are then uncovered. The plot is fairly straight forward as the spotlight focuses on each character in turn, but the different relationships revealed are not. It will be important for the cast to really know and understand their characters so that the similarities and differences between them come alive. There will be plenty of opportunity for developing and presenting a wide range of emotions throughout. Priestley saw his characters as very successful young people - from their early 20s to mid 40s!! We will not be adhering to his suggestions but still looking for credibility in the relationships between the characters.

Characters All the characters are generally upper middle class, wealthy and well dressed. The three main characters are on the stage for nearly all the play. Miss Mockridge appears at the very beginning and the very end. Robert Caplan is the senior director of the publishing firm and very successful. He married the boss’s daughter, Freda. Robert appears very proud and determined, wants to understand and be in control of everything, but finds it difficult to accept things when they don’t fit into his view of the world. He is actually rather naïve, not perceptive or resilient. He must be able to suggest honest bewilderment without seeming too stupid. Freda Caplan is married to Robert and is Gordon’s older sister. She is the hostess, very much the “first lady” and daughter of the founder of the firm. She knows (nearly) every one’s secrets. She is smart and self-possessed, rather hard but capable of showing signs of deep emotion. Can be unsympathetic and malicious but this could be a sign of unhappiness.

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Gordon Whitehouse is the youngest director and married to Betty. Of dapper appearance and outwardly laidback he has an indolent, graceful Oxford-ish manner in lighter scenes, but shows frequent signs of underlying hysteria. Betty Whitehouse is young and pretty. She is petulant and kittenish in lighter scenes and shrill and hysterical in the emotional passages. She gives the impression of being young and silly, but is difficult to please and out for what she can get. Her marriage to Gordon is a sham. Olwen Peel is single and a successful lady – she probably has a senior position within the firm. She has a pleasant open manner but can appear a trifle aloof. She is gentle, loyal and a peacemaker, putting other people’s needs before her own and showing depths of compassion when trying to put things right. Charles Stanton has recently been appointed director of the firm, having successfully worked his way up from junior clerk. He is a bit of a cad and probably does not have the same background as the others. His manner can be rather harsh and authoritative. He seems to take the revelation of others’ secrets in his stride, at times taking control of the situation or providing something of a commentary on the proceedings. Miss Mockridge a successful author. She has an authoritative manner and a speculative eye. She is sophisticated and well dressed, possibly a little eccentric. She enjoys a gossip.

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Audition Pieces (In page order) Lower page numbers refer to new books and higher page numbers to the library copies ACT I Main Character Miss Mockridge Supporting Characters Freda, Olwen, Betty Context Ladies in drawing room after dinner Audition Piece p6-p8 p4-p5 From Miss M “Miss Peel, I think you ought to marry Mr Stanton” to Miss M “He was very handsome wasn’t he?” ACT II Main Character Charles Stanton Supporting Characters Robert, Freda, Gordon Context Stanton is accused of theft Audition Piece p40-p42 p31-p32 From Robert “Why did you play Martin and me against each other?” to Stanton “it makes a difference, I can tell you”

Main Character Freda Caplan Supporting Characters Robert, Olwen, Gordon, Stanton Context Stanton accuses Freda of being in love with Martin Audition Piece p46 – p49 p34-p36 From Robert “I’m waiting for your explanation” to Freda: “Oh Martin, Martin”

Main Character Gordon Whitehouse Supporting Characters Freda, Robert, Olwen, Stanton Context Freda reveals the truth about Gordon and Martin Audition Piece p50 – p52 p37 - 38 From Freda “He [Martin] told me then you’d stayed the night…” to Gordon “I don’t care”

ACT III Main Character Olwen Peel Supporting Characters Robert and Freda Context Olwen has just confessed to killing Martin Audition Piece p67-p69 p47 - 49 From Robert “What happened?” to Olwen “I’ve gone through that over and over again”

Main Character Betty Whitehouse Supporting Characters Robert, Freda, Gordon, Olwen, Stanton Context Olwen discloses that she saw Betty at Stanton’s cottage Audition Piece p74-76 p52 – p53 From Olwen “You see Robert, I saw them…” to Betty :”deserve all they can get” audition notes.doc 3 20/06/2018

Main Character Robert Caplan Supporting Characters Olwen and Freda Context Robert has realised that his world has collapsed Audition Piece p82-p84 p57-p59 From Freda “I feel rather hungry…?” to Robert “There can’t be a tomorrow”.

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