GMDF Member Societies’ Acting Auditions, Plays, Musicals and Pantomimes

“The last show is always a very strange affair. It’s like a party, a great buzz of excitement. But then each actor will leave, with laughter still ringing in the air and a cheery wave. Then it stops. And as you watch each of them walk down the street, they look terribly lonely. That’s the thing about it, you see. After all the applause and elation, we walk home alone. And that’s who actors are—the happiest, saddest people you’ll ever meet.”

The Actress dramatizes the events backstage as a colourful, complicated actress makes her emotional farewell performance.
Various people from Lydia’s life invade her dressing room to say their goodbyes, declare their love, roar with laughter, spit insults, grab a final embrace and renew old battles.
We meet the Company Manager, Lydia’s agent, her daughter, her ex-husband, her Dresser and her Elderly Fiance/sugar daddy!! And, of course Lydia herself.
The action takes place on the night of Lydia’s farewell performance of “The Cherry Orchard”. She is now preparing for a quiet life in Switzerland with Charles. It is a Comedy but there are some beautiful poignant scenes as we meet each of Lydia’s contacts across the years of a very successful Theatrical career.
Will she really retire?

Character Breakdown

LYDIA
Mid to late 50s.Used to getting her own way. She believes that she is better than anyone and treats others as mere underlings, especially Katherine, Margaret and Harriet. She treats Charles appallingly using him because of his money and status. She treats her daughter Nicole well, but in her own way and in her own time. Paul, her ex and Nicole’s father she appears to hate, but he has her mettle and can and does easily seduce her. She loves him but she loves money more. The last few lines of the play lay open her true feelings.
KATHERINE
Any age but she has been a dresser a long time!! Lydia’s dresser. Extremely efficient and unruffled. Calm and almost bored throughout—- but she adores Lydia.
She knows where everything is. A place for everything and everything in its place.

NICOLE
Lydia’s daughter. Mid 20s. Grown up and sensible despite having a mother like Lydia. She adores her father and doesn’t like to see her mother as the centre of attention, so rarely sees her performances. However, she feels duty bound to attend her mother’s farewell performance. Although sensible we get the impression that she almost brought herself up and is a little lost—{“Mother you have never been there to look after me.”}

HARRIET
Lydia’s Agent. Any age. Her sole existence relies heavily on Lydia, so she really doesn’t want Lydia to retire. She speaks quickly but clearly to try to hide any embarrassment. Her speech on pages 28/29 reveals her true character. Getting drunker as we go through the scene with her. She makes a sycophantic entrance on pages 54/55. She loses her composure when she fumbles her final speech.

MARGARET
The Company Manager. Panicky, nervous type, especially tonight for the farewell performance. Usually seen with either a clipboard or pieces of paper {Think Celia Imrie in Dinner Ladies} She is in love with Roger, the Director of the play and she defends him to Lydia. She can suck all the energy out of a room, but can be quite efficient.

CHARLES
Lydia’s fiancé. Elderly and has difficulty climbing the stairs to the Dressing Room. He is a bore and his great passions {apart from Lydia} are reading and shopping and talking. He adores Lydia but doesn’t “Get the Theatre” or Actors.
The actor playing Charles must be able to make a passable attempt at a Russian accent.

PAUL
Lydia’s very handsome ex. Probably the same age as Lydia but looks quite young. He is reckless, charming and exciting and still in love with Lydia. Quite a “romp” with Lydia on the floor of the dressing room amid an abundance of bouquets of flowers. The actor playing Paul must be agile and like Charles must have an attempt at a Russian accent
{Both Paul and Charles play the 2 male characters in the short “bits” of the Chekhov Play}

We look forward to seeing you on the 17th May. If you would like to see the audition pieces or have any queries please do not hesitate to contact us. thank you