Glengarry Glen Ross Directed by Peter Griffin
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2 - 11 July 2009 It Ain’t Half Hot Mum by Jimmy Perry and David Croft Director: Roz Betts 3 - 10 October 2009 The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde Director: Daniel Cox 21 - 28 November 2009 Proof by David Auburn Director: Maggi Law 6 - 13 February 2010 A Tomb With a View by Norman Robbins Director: Viv Stapleton OPEN AUDITIONS – Sunday 7 June 2009 1pm – THE MAIDS by Jean Genet Based on a contemporary murder case, this richly symbolic play details the attempts of two sisters to come to terms with the differing realities of life in Madame’s employ. Solange – Mid to late 30s Claire – Early to mid 30s Madame – About 25 but could be older. 2pm – A TOMB WITH A VIEW by Norman Robbins A comedy-thriller in which we find the sinister Tomb family gathering for the reading of a will – but by the third act there are more corpses than live members left! Hamilton Penworthy – Family solicitor (60-70) Lucien Tomb – Eldest son, pompous and petulant (60ish) Dora Tomb – Sister, perhaps not as sweet as we think (60ish) Emily Tomb – Sister, big and feisty (40-50) Marcus Tomb – Brother, thinks he is Julius Caesar (40-50) Monica Tomb – Youngest sister, attractive vamp (30ish) Agatha Hammond – Housekeeper, grim, outspoken and unlovely (65ish) Freda Mountjoy – Author, smart, middle aged and confident Peregrine Potter – Freda’s secretary, nervous (30ish) Anne Franklin – Nurse; we believe her to be charming! (20-30ish) All ages are ‘playing ages’. Audition pieces for both plays can be Have A Safe Journey Home! - Please visit again. A Have found at the theatre or by logging onto www.edwardalderton.org/auditions.htm For The Edward Alderton Theatre Chairman & Treasurer ..................................... Jenny Devonshire Artistic Director & Publicity .................................. Mark Campbell Technical Director ..............................................Rebecca Mason Secretary & Membership Secretary .................Maureen Hardwen Box Office .............................................................. Nicola Clark Bar Manager ........................................................Tony Donnelly Front of House Manager ....................................Shirley Andrews Production Photographs .............................................. Paul Lay Committee Members ....................... Wendy Marsh, Viv Stapleton Social Nights are held every Wednesday from 9.00pm Our Next Production except when there is a show on. Advanced Bookings Bookings may be made at the Theatre Box Office during performances or by telephoning 020 8301 5584. Postal bookings can be made by sending a cheque and booking form (found on our website http://www.edwardalderton.org) to Edward Alderton c Theatre, /o 29 Chapel Road, Bexleyheath, Kent, DA7 4HW. Or via email on [email protected] In The Interval The theatre bar serves a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks before and after the show and during the interval. Interval drinks can be pre-ordered from the bar. Coffee and a limited range of Theatre Information confectionery are served in the foyer, located at the Box Office, during the interval. PLEASE NOTE: The theatre is a STRICTLY non-smoking building, on a non- smoking site. If you wish to smoke, you are requested to go to the main entrance in Brampton Road. The taking of photographs and use of ANY recording equipment in the theatre is strictly forbidden during a performance. MOBILE PHONES SHOULD BE SWITCHED OFF. with a matinee on sunday 5 july at 5pm Glengarry Glen Ross is the story of four Chicago salesmen—Levene, I first came upon Glengarry Glen Ross in the mid nineties when Roma, Moss, and Aaronow—and their supervisor, Williamson, who I rented out the film version on video from my local video rental work together selling undesirable real estate at inflated prices. The shop. I had no idea what it was about so the thing that initially play takes place at the end of a month in which the bosses of the drew me to it was the pretty amazing cast – Kevin Spacey, Jack company, Mitch and Murray, have declared a “sales contest”: The Lemmon, Al Pacino, Alec Baldwin, Ed Harris, Alan Arkin and salesman who clears a certain high dollar amount will win a Cadillac, and the two salesmen who perform worst will be fired. Jonathan Pryce. Shelly Levene - Shelly “The Machine” Levene was successful years I put the video cassette into the machine and eagerly sat down. ago, but recently has hit a streak of bad luck and finds himself in The smoky jazz soundtrack filled the room which, for me, was a danger of getting fired. He desperately wants to save his career, and good start as I love jazz. Alec Baldwin appeared on the screen as this desperation is usually grotesquely apparent. a motivator (this part was written for him by Mamet as it does not exist in the play) sent from head office downtown to try and word from the Director A John Williamson - Williamson’s job is to oversee the operations of provoke the failing salesmen into closing their leads. He does his the office and to assign the salesmen their leads. The salesmen dislike best to belittle and crush the already hapless salesmen with the him because of his status as “company man”; he merely follows use of cutting and offensive language that, instead of making orders from Mitch and Murray, and the salesmen do not think he me turn off, drew me into the action, amazed at the realism of really understands the business. the performances and the dialogue. Dave Moss - Moss harbours a great deal of resentment toward the Mamet is famed for his style of writing. He writes as people company. He is not a subtle man, and tends to lash out angrily when speak in everyday life; all of the pauses, stutters and nuances are under pressure. His sheer aggression makes him a more successful salesman than Aaronow or Levene, but he has none of Roma’s verbal all written down which makes it a tough challenge to learn and agility. put across in a convincing manner. This style is rife throughout Glengarry Glen Ross. George Aaronow - Aaronow is extremely meek and mild-mannered. In conversation, faster talkers like Moss and Roma easily overpower During the rehearsal period, we worked very hard to try to get him. His dullness is evident in his conversational tendency to merely the realism of the dialogue and characters. Considering we have repeat what other people are saying to him. Like Levene, Aaronow is had only 40 hours (not even 2 days) to get to where we are now, not on the board and is in immediate danger of getting fired. I think we’ve done pretty well. I hope all our efforts are apparent and that you enjoy the experience. A Closer Look A Richard Roma - Roma is the top name on the board at his office, which means he is currently the most successful salesman. It is easy On behalf of the cast I’d like to thank you for coming to see the to see why he does better than the other men: he is smart, charming, play tonight and hope that it makes for enthusiastic discussion and incredibly quick-witted. Rather than trying to force customers afterward. to submit to his sales tactics, as the others do, he lures people into thinking they want what he is selling. Enjoy. James Lingk - A quiet, timid man who is dominated by his wife. Peter Griffin Baylen - A police detective. Director Please remember that sounds carry in this theatre, especially whispering and scrunching Would patrons please respect the comfort and wishes of others. sweet wrappers. This is most distracting to Please do not smoke in the theatre; do not take food, drink or sweets both audience and performers. Thank you. into the auditorium; ensure that all mobile phones and pagers are switched off during the performances. Thank you. Glengarry Glen Ross Directed by Peter Griffin David Mamet was born in Chicago, Illinois on November 30th, Cast 1947. He studied at Goddard College in Vermont and at the (in order of appearance) Neighbourhood Playhouse School of Theatre in New York. He Shelly Levene ...................................................................John McLaren went on to teach at New York University, Goddard College and at the Yale Drama School. John Williamson .....................................................................Stuart Keil Mamet made his name with his plays Sexual Perversity in Dave Moss ............................................................................ Richard Self Chicago (1974), The Duck Variations (1976) and American Buffalo (1977). These dark dramas had strong male characters George Aaronow ..............................................................Roger Gollop with highly charged dialogue that built dramatic tension within Author About the Richard Roma ............................................................... Michael Martin the confines of the play. His plays often portray the plight of small-time drifters, salesmen and cons. Early examples of these James Lingk ................................................................... Mark Campbell are The Woods (1977) and Edmond (1982). These two not very successful plays were followed by two hits: Glengarry Glen Baylen ............................................................................................ Ian Long Ross (1984), which won Mamet a Pulitzer Prize, and Speed the Plow (1988). Crew As well as writing for the stage, Mamet has written numerous Stage Manager .............................................................Rebecca Mason screenplays. His first attempt was the screenplay for the 1981 re-make of The Postman Always Rings Twice . After that came Assistant Stage