AUDITION NOTICE
PRIVATE LIVES
By Noel Coward
Director: Chris Hearn
Production Assistant: Theo Spring
To be held at Sanderstead United Reformed Church Hall, 3 Sanderstead Road, Sanderstead, CR2 0HB
Performance dates: 7 – 9 November 2024
Play Reading: Monday 8 July 7.45 pm
Auditions: Thursday 25 July 7.45pm
Both Play Reading and Auditions will be held at Sanderstead United Reformed Church Hall
Rehearsals will start mid-August
Newlyweds Elyot and Sybil arrive at a hotel in France for their honeymoon. Amanda, Elyot’s first wife, happens to take the adjoining suite with her new husband Victor. Elyot and Amanda realise they are still in love and escape to Amanda’s flat in Paris, leaving Sybil and Victor behind.
They soon fall back into their old ways of alternately loving and fighting. Victor and Sybil, who have followed them to Paris, discover them having a blazing row. The following morning Victor and Sybil start bickering over who was to blame for this state of affairs. As their arguments get more and more heated, Elyot and Amanda escape together once more.
Characters
Elyot. – Sophisticated, witty and charming. Any age between 40 and 55 Sybil – Susceptible to Elyot’s charms but quite resolved to fight her corner. 30-40 Amanda – Sophisticated but turns into quite a nasty, vicious woman. 40s
Victor – A stubborn bore who is totally captivated by Amanda. 50s Louise – A maid who only speaks French. Any age.
Audition pieces
Elyot and Amanda – Page 29, Elyot says: “That was a near thing.” to page 32 Amanda says “Oh dear triple-Sollocks!”
Victor and Sybil – Page 54, Sybil says: “I thought what Elyot said was funny.” to the end of the play.
Louise – Page 39. The opening speech in Act III.