The Father
By Florian Zeller, translated by Christopher Hampton
Directed by Mandy Hunt
Key Dates
Information Evening: Thursday 21st November 7:30pm
Audition: Thursday 28th November 7:30pm
Performances: Weds 26th – Sat 29th March 2025
Show Dates: Wednesday 26th – Saturday 29th March 2025, 7:30pm
Synopsis
Described as a tragi-comic mystery, this wonderful play is a sobering and realistic family story which looks at the world through the eyes of a man, Andre, experiencing dementia. First, a “helper” – who he doesn’t need at all – steals his favourite watch. Then Anne, his daughter, a scheming woman who worries too much, tries to take his beautiful flat away, which he is quite capable of living in – thank you very much! Anne’s husband (or is her lover?), Pierre, with whom she is moving to London, (or is she staying in Paris?), threatens Andre if he doesn’t co-operate. To top it off, strangers keep entering his flat telling him that they are his friends and family and telling him that he no longer lives in his flat.
Andre is a man of authority, and he will find some way to assert it. After all, he still has all his faculties….. Doesn’t he?
Rehearsals
Rehearsals will start on Monday 3rd February and will mainly be Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays subject to the occasional change. Unless otherwise stated on the rehearsal schedule, all rehearsals will be at the Playhouse. Initially in the Lindley Room before moving to the stage.
All rehearsals will start at 7.30pm
Information evening – Thursday 21st November, 7.30pm
Through the course of the evening, we will give a summary of our vision for the production and answer any questions. We are hoping to keep this evening short! We will not be reading the whole play through, but a few scenes will be read to you, so that everyone can get a sense of the play.
The Cast
Andre – 60s or older (m)
Anne – his daughter – 45+ (f)
Pierre – Anne’s husband – 45+ (m)
Man – 45+ (m)
Woman – 45+ (f)
Laura – a carer – 30s (f)
The ages are a guide only. Andre naturally has to be older than the other characters. Due to the ambiguity of the story line, I’m deliberately not including character descriptions.
Audition date – Thursday 28th November, 7.30pm
The auditions will take place in the studio and auditionees will be called in from the Lindley Room.
Audition Pieces
Andre & Anne – sc1 to the end of Anne’s line at the bottom of pg3
Andre & Man -sc2 to end of pg11
Anne & Laura – sc3 to end of Anne’s long speech on pg20
Pierre, Anne & Andre – sc8 to end of pg44
Anne & Pierre – sc12 to end of scene
Andre & Laura – pg50 from Andre’s line “I’ve lost my watch” to pg52, Laura’s line “And then we’ll go and get you dressed.”
Woman & Andre – sc15 to pg74, woman’s line “But it’s a very good tea.”
Copies will be available online and we will be able to send copies by email.
If you would like to read the script please email either myself (Mandy) acdelah@btinternet.com or Trace Parvin tracyparvin@gmail.com
I have only enough scripts for the production and would therefore be very grateful if once read they could be returned to me for others to have a read.