COLD COMFORT FARM
COLD COMFORT FARM A play by Paul Doust – adapted from the novel by Stella Gibbons To be performed at The Riverhouse Barn, Walton on Thames 18th – 21st July 2012 Auditions : Tuesday, 17th April 2012 with rehearsals on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 18th April. All at the RDG Studio, Chertsey. See below for audition pieces. Directed by Faith Powell – 01932 224573 or 07791 374767 [email protected] This adaptation of the well-loved Stella Gibbons’ classic rural novel, set in the 1930s, is written with its tongue firmly in its cheek, giving wonderful opportunities for hilarious comedic acting.
Plot Summary The heroine, Flora Poste, is young, sophisticated and determined. She visits Aunt Ada Doom’s isolated farm in the fictional village of Howling, Sussex, where she transforms the lives of her unruly relatives, the Starkadders. As peace and harmony replace discord and violence we see the beautiful but wild Elfine made over as suitable wife material for the local gentry; Amos, the fire and brimstone preacher, released from his farming duties to set out on a nationwide crusade; brooding Seth transformed into a Hollywood sex symbol and cousin Judith miraculously cured of her neuroses. Most important of all we see the family released from the tyranny of Aunt Ada (who was never the same after seeing ‘something narsty in the woodshed’) and Ada herself launched into a new and glamorous existence. There is plenty of scope for characterisation and the Sussex family and farm hands can adopt a West Country accent. Charles and the Hawk-Monitors are the upper crust and Mr Neck has an American accent.
Characters There is a central group of 15 named characters. However, the number can be reduced to 10 with doubling if required. There is also a group of Chorus who perform a variety of roles such as guests at the ball and wedding, additional family for the Counting and the Quivering Brethren!
FEMALE CHARACTERS: FLORA POSTE – The heroine 20/35. She is recently orphaned. A level-headed woman who applies modern common sense to the Starkadder family and helps them all adapt to the 20 th century. JUDITH STARKADDER – Flora’s cousin, wife of Amos. Middle aged, she has an unhealthy passion for her youngest son, Seth. Prophesises disaster for the family. ELFINE STARKADDER – Judith’s daughter 18/25. An intellectual, outdoor, fun-loving girl. Beautiful but wild, she is besotted with the local squire, Richard Hawk-Monitor. AUNT ADA DOOM – The matriarch, Judith’s mother. A reclusive, miserly widow, owner of the farm. She constantly complains of having seen ‘something nasty in the woodshed’, when she was a girl.
RENNET - Described as “poor daft Rennet”. Wild and mute, has a ‘thing’ for Mark Dolour(who we never see). Finds her voice at the end of the play. MRS HAWK-MONITOR – small character part. Richard’s upper-class mother and owner of Hautcouture Hall. Can also be in the Chorus.
MALE CHARACTERS: AMOS STARKADDER – Judith’s husband; fire and brimstone preacher at the church of The Quivering Brethren (“Ye’re all damned!”). REUBEN STARKADDER – Amos and Judith’s eldest son and heir, jealous of anyone who stands between him and the farm. SETH STARKADDER – Their younger son. Handsome, over-sexed and has a passion for the movies. Enjoys ‘mollocking’! URK STARKADDER – Related way back, a young bachelor. Rough farmhand, not very literate, who wants to marry Elfine. ADAM LAMBSBREATH – The old family retainer – farm hand. Obsessed with Elfine and – Graceless, Aimless, Feckless and Pointless, his cows. CHARLES – Flora’s love interest who is studying to become a parson and who she eventually ends up with. A spiffing chap with lovely teeth. On at beginning and end of play, so can also be in Chorus. RICHARD HAWK-MONITOR – Elfine’s intended, small part. Can be in Chorus. MR NECK – Hollywood film Producer. Can also be in Chorus. SNELLER – Hawk-Monitor’s butler. Very small part can be doubled or member of Chorus.
AUDITION PIECES: FLORA 1-4, 8-17, 22-26, 28-30, 62-67, 80-83 ADA 31, 62-67, 74-76, 80-83 AMOS 14-17, 41-42, 62-67 JUDITH 4, 8-15, 62-67 RUEBEN 12-17, 22-26, 84-86 SETH 15-17, 28-30, 47-49 ELFINE 22-26, 28-30, 80-83 RENNET 9, 62-67, 80-83 URK 12, 62-67 MRS HAWK MONITOR 47-49, 80-83 ADAM 10-11, 80-83 NECK 62-67, 47-49 CHARLES 1-4 RICHARD 47-49 SNELLER 47-49 CHORUS PARTS Mark, Luke, Susan, Michah, Polly Napthalie, Sheba, Meg, Peg and Dandelion. All have group dialogue within the play and at the wedding, ball, additional family and the brethren. Ages from 15 – 100!
Plot Summary The heroine, Flora Poste, is young, sophisticated and determined. She visits Aunt Ada Doom’s isolated farm in the fictional village of Howling, Sussex, where she transforms the lives of her unruly relatives, the Starkadders. As peace and harmony replace discord and violence we see the beautiful but wild Elfine made over as suitable wife material for the local gentry; Amos, the fire and brimstone preacher, released from his farming duties to set out on a nationwide crusade; brooding Seth transformed into a Hollywood sex symbol and cousin Judith miraculously cured of her neuroses. Most important of all we see the family released from the tyranny of Aunt Ada (who was never the same after seeing ‘something narsty in the woodshed’) and Ada herself launched into a new and glamorous existence. There is plenty of scope for characterisation and the Sussex family and farm hands can adopt a West Country accent. Charles and the Hawk-Monitors are the upper crust and Mr Neck has an American accent.
Characters There is a central group of 15 named characters. However, the number can be reduced to 10 with doubling if required. There is also a group of Chorus who perform a variety of roles such as guests at the ball and wedding, additional family for the Counting and the Quivering Brethren!
FEMALE CHARACTERS: FLORA POSTE – The heroine 20/35. She is recently orphaned. A level-headed woman who applies modern common sense to the Starkadder family and helps them all adapt to the 20 th century. JUDITH STARKADDER – Flora’s cousin, wife of Amos. Middle aged, she has an unhealthy passion for her youngest son, Seth. Prophesises disaster for the family. ELFINE STARKADDER – Judith’s daughter 18/25. An intellectual, outdoor, fun-loving girl. Beautiful but wild, she is besotted with the local squire, Richard Hawk-Monitor. AUNT ADA DOOM – The matriarch, Judith’s mother. A reclusive, miserly widow, owner of the farm. She constantly complains of having seen ‘something nasty in the woodshed’, when she was a girl.
RENNET - Described as “poor daft Rennet”. Wild and mute, has a ‘thing’ for Mark Dolour(who we never see). Finds her voice at the end of the play. MRS HAWK-MONITOR – small character part. Richard’s upper-class mother and owner of Hautcouture Hall. Can also be in the Chorus.
MALE CHARACTERS: AMOS STARKADDER – Judith’s husband; fire and brimstone preacher at the church of The Quivering Brethren (“Ye’re all damned!”). REUBEN STARKADDER – Amos and Judith’s eldest son and heir, jealous of anyone who stands between him and the farm. SETH STARKADDER – Their younger son. Handsome, over-sexed and has a passion for the movies. Enjoys ‘mollocking’! URK STARKADDER – Related way back, a young bachelor. Rough farmhand, not very literate, who wants to marry Elfine. ADAM LAMBSBREATH – The old family retainer – farm hand. Obsessed with Elfine and – Graceless, Aimless, Feckless and Pointless, his cows. CHARLES – Flora’s love interest who is studying to become a parson and who she eventually ends up with. A spiffing chap with lovely teeth. On at beginning and end of play, so can also be in Chorus. RICHARD HAWK-MONITOR – Elfine’s intended, small part. Can be in Chorus. MR NECK – Hollywood film Producer. Can also be in Chorus. SNELLER – Hawk-Monitor’s butler. Very small part can be doubled or member of Chorus.
AUDITION PIECES: FLORA 1-4, 8-17, 22-26, 28-30, 62-67, 80-83 ADA 31, 62-67, 74-76, 80-83 AMOS 14-17, 41-42, 62-67 JUDITH 4, 8-15, 62-67 RUEBEN 12-17, 22-26, 84-86 SETH 15-17, 28-30, 47-49 ELFINE 22-26, 28-30, 80-83 RENNET 9, 62-67, 80-83 URK 12, 62-67 MRS HAWK MONITOR 47-49, 80-83 ADAM 10-11, 80-83 NECK 62-67, 47-49 CHARLES 1-4 RICHARD 47-49 SNELLER 47-49 CHORUS PARTS Mark, Luke, Susan, Michah, Polly Napthalie, Sheba, Meg, Peg and Dandelion. All have group dialogue within the play and at the wedding, ball, additional family and the brethren. Ages from 15 – 100!
