Gaslight

By Patrick Hamilton. Directed by Richard Thomas

Our Spring production will run from 3rd – 5th April 2025, at the Merlin Theatre.

AUDITIONS

Thursday 28th November 7pm

Auditions will be held at the Frome Canoe Club from 7pm on Thursday 28th November, with potential follow up auditions the following week for people who cannot come along on Thursday.  Audition materials will be available at the audition.

If you would like to audition please let us know if you are able to come along on Thursday, and if not whether you can make and dates the following week by emailing fromedramaclub@hotmail.com

Show dates: 3rd-5th April, 2025; Merlin Theatre

This classic play by the mid-century master of thrills and suspense, Patrick Hamilton, is the source of the mot de jour – gaslighting. Playing on the concept itself, this production will toy with the audience’s perception of the characters and their situation, tricking the senses with swift shifts of character, unsettling lighting effects and a set that hints at the insecurity of our own sanity. We will be abandoning the traditional naturalistic setting and working to create a more modern theatrical experience.

The play is very much about a coercive, abusive relationship, as well as being a crime thriller. Mr and Mrs Manningham live, with two servants, in a ‘gloomy’ and ‘unfashionable’ part of London at the end of the 19th Century. Their relationship is a difficult one. She appears to be ‘losing it’; misplacing items, forgetting key events. She is slowly coming to believe her husband: she is going mad, and the dimming of the gaslight only seems to confirm that.

In Act Two a mysterious figure appears. Former detective, ‘Rough’, tells Bella a fabulous, barely believable story. Her husband is actually another man; a killer. He has returned from being on the run to try to find the very treasure that motivated him to kill 20 years ago: the Barlow rubies – hidden by his victim in plain sight. Moving into the same house, literally returning to the scene of the crime, he is now fruitlessly searching the attic every night, causing the gaslights to dim, while trying to convince his new bride that she is losing her mind in an effort to eventually discard her as useful cover for his deeds. Rough, the renowned original investigating officer, recognised Manningham in the street and has now discovered the location of the rubies. All that’s left is to apprehend Mr Manningham himself and so free Bella from her tormentor … Can it be true, or is this mysterious man further proof of Bella’s madness?

In Act Three, Mr Manningham shows his true colours, cavorting with the teenage maid and pushing his wife to breaking point. Rough arrives just in time to make his arrest. Bella gets her chance to vent her fury at her husband and we are left with the pitiful sight of the villain undone.

CHARACTER DETAILS

Cast of 5 (max 7). The cast includes 5 speaking roles of varying length and involvement as follows.

Mrs Bella Manningham (played as female)

Playing age: 30-38

Characterisation: ‘Previously beautiful, now haggard! Wan and frightened, with rings beneath her eyes.’

Challenge: to convincingly portray a broken woman, trapped in a coercive relationship who eventually finds the courage to stand up to her tormentor. We should be in doubt of her sanity.

Commitment: on stage for 80% of the time; lots of emotional dialogue

Mr Jack Manningham (played as male)

Playing age: 40-50

Characterisation: ‘Fine figure! Suave and authoritative, with a touch of mystery and bitterness.’

Challenge: to win over the audience while also being a despicable man! Lots of flipping of character from sympathetic to dastardly.

Commitment: on stage for about two-thirds of the play

Police Sergeant Rough (could be either gender – but written as male)

Playing age: 50-70

Characterisation: ‘Wiry, active, brusque, friendly and overbearing! Dominates every scene he’s in.’

Challenge: to be a potential figment of our imagination, while also creating a believable, Poirot/Columbo-like detective

Commitment: on for about two-thirds of the play; some lengthy explanatory speeches

Nancy (could be either gender – but written as female)

Playing age: stated specifically in script as 19

Characterisation: ‘Self-conscious, pretty and cheeky.’ I would add flirtatious.

Challenge: to tread the line between professional servant and hussy! Really another victim of Manningham’s evil charm; can we find sympathy for the potential homewrecker?

Commitment: on stage for around 10% or so of the play

Elizabeth (could be either gender – but written as female)

Playing age: 45-70

Characterisation: ‘Stout, amiable and subservient’

Challenge: to stand out as a servant who sees all yet seems to do little – why does she not intervene? Unspoken back story may be essential!

Commitment: makes an appearance in about a third of all scenes

Two ‘men’ – police officers? 

To physically restrain Manningham at the end of the play – non-speaking roles that may or may not be needed.

Frome Drama’s auditions are open to all, and we’ll also be looking for lots of people to get involved on the production side. If you’re interested in getting involved, you can email us at fromedramaclub@hotmail.com