French Poison: two performances January 18
Auditions: November 17 from 2 pm to 4pm at the Guildhall (address below).Performances: 1:00 and 3:00 January 18
Rehearsals (subject to change) : November 26, December 3, December 8, January 14, January 16
The script: You are welcome to download a copy here, and note the scenes to be used in the audition.
2:00-2:30: Scene 1, p. 4 (narrator); Scene 2, p. 5-6 (younger women)
2:30-3:30: Scene 8, p. 14-15 (younger women and men, older women)
3:30-4:00: Scene 16, p. 26-27 ; Scene 21, p. 34-35 (all women, older men)
Complete memorization will not be required for performances but partial would be great, to allow emphasis on character, clear diction and vocal expression. Some actors will portray a single role while others may play several, so we’ll be using costume “bits” to help with characterization. The performance will have live piano and sound effects.
French Poison is a staged reading of a true crime radio play written by Austin Stone for the BBC in the 1950s.
Our story begins in Paris in 1839, based on the true crime of Marie Cappelle, a descendant of Louis XIII of France. She marries Charles Lafarge, a man who conveyed to her family that he was a wealthy iron master. After the wedding, they leave immediately for his Chateau in Provence, where Marie discovers that he in fact lied about his wealth ,and is actually bankrupt. The estate is in complete disrepair and infested with rats. While Charles is away in Paris, Marie sends him a piece of Christmas cake…
…and the mystery begins to unfold. Part true crime, part suspense, part courtroom drama — all packed into an old-fashioned radio broadcast-style presentation.