Caxton Theatre

The next reading and auditions are for Smother, directed by Joseph Parfrement Parkes.

Synopsis

You are cordially invited to the birthday party from hell.

To mark 75 years of The Caxton Theatre, Smother is a brand new play from local writer Ben Parfrement Parkes (Dead and Breakfast), which has been commissioned exclusively to commemorate this momentous milestone.

Recently widowed Joan Merrifield is also preparing to turn seventy-five. And what better way to celebrate her special day than with a visit from the whole family, reunited after many years apart? Could she have asked for a better birthday present? What could possibly be nicer than being surrounded by her nearest and dearest? Well, as it turns out, just about anything…

The festivities get off to a disastrous start when Joan accidentally finds herself in bed with her sleazy ex-husband, Malcolm. Things only go downhill from there, and, as the gin starts to flow, and the social niceties subside, it soon becomes clear why this family have nothing to do with one another. As tensions reach breaking point, it’s all-out war.

Casting information:-

JOAN 75 years old; the antithesis of a sweet old lady. Think more deadly than demure. She may look good for her age, but she is bitter, twisted, venomous; her life a tragedy of her own making. She masks the pain with gin.

MALCOLM Early 70s, but again, younger looking/acting. A loveable rogue. Sleazy, but generally well-meaning. He still pines for Joan, even though they divorced decades ago.

JONATHAN Eldest son, late 40s/early 50s. Flash. Materialistic. Likes fast cars and young women. Emotionally stunted. Overcompensates for his own inadequacies.

CLAUDIA Youngest child, an accident, late 30s. Messed up. A bit of a hippy. Vegetarian. Free spirit, bit wet. Failing teacher at a failing school. The butt of the family’s jokes. Trampled.

NICHOLAS Late teens/early 20s. A bit of an enigma. The outsider of the family. Never leaves the house.

REBECCA Late 20s. Jonathan’s pregnant, mild-mannered fiancé. Sweet, innocent and kind, and therefore a direct contrast to everybody else. A mouse caught in a wasp’s nest. Quite gullible.