Clubnight: Director’s Pitch – ‘Two Plays After’ by Brian Friel

DIRECTOR’S PITCH FOR ‘TWO PLAYS AFTER’ BY BRIAN FRIEL – WED 12TH APRIL 2023

I will be directing AFTERPLAY and THE YALTA GAME ( based on Chekhov’s ‘ The Lady with the Lapdog’ in 1899) by the famous Irish playwright Brian Friel (DANCING AT LUGHNASA, TRANSLATIONS). Both plays are adapted from works by Anton Chekhov. Performances will take place in the October slot of Everyman’s Playhouse Season in the Seligman Theatre
(Oct 24th- 28th).

My Director’s Pitch for both one-act plays is in the Clubnight on Wednesday 12th April at 8pm. Auditions for both plays are to be held on Monday 17th April at 7-9.30pm in the clubroom. Audition extracts will be available at the pitch on the 12th April or by contacting me by email: b.slack@virginmedia.com. If recalls are required, suitable arrangements will be made after the 17th April.

Rehearsals will commence at the end of August on Tuesdays,Thursdays ( 7.30 -9.30pm and Sundays( 10.30-1pm).

‘AFTERPLAY’ CAST.

Sonya Serebriakova, (mid-forties).
Andrey Prozorov, (early fifties).

SYNOPSIS

Sonya Serebriarkova from UNCLE VANYA and Andrey Prozorov, the put upon brother from THREE SISTERS meet in a café in 1920s Moscow and reflect upon their lives and how they’ve developed during the last 20 years. It was first performed in March 2002, in the Gate Theatre, Dublin with Penelope Wilton and John Hurt.
‘…the secret of this remarkable play is that Friel presents his two people simply as they are without any editorialising.’ – The Guardian 2002

‘THE YALTA GAME’ CAST

Dmitry Dimitrich Gurov, (about 39-40).
Anna Sergeyevna, (twenty-two).
The ages given above are specified by the playwright, so those successful in gaining one of the four roles should look that age.

SYNOPSIS.

Based on one of Chekhov’s most famous short stories, Friel’s adaptation describes an adulterous affair between an unhappily married Moscow banker and a young married woman. It begins whilst both are vacationing alone in Yalta, a popular seaside resort in the Crimea. It was first produced in the Gate Theatre, Dublin in October 2001 with Ciaran Hinds and Kelly Reilly. It will be a most suitable foil to AFTER PLAY in a joint programme.

• A simple set with two windows upstage as backing. Possible use of projections for sense of place. Change of furniture props required for second play.
• YALTA GAME, a round table with 3 or 4 chairs and a chais longue; AFTERPLAY, two round tables, 4 chairs and coat stand. Some hire required Small props for each play.
• Lighting – dingy, atmospheric, for AFTERPLAY; often sunny outdoors, but some interior lighting needed in smaller areas.
• Music – some opera from Puccini for AFTERPAY; in YALTA GAME some SFX of outdoor scenes (eg a military band passing ) Other music to be chosen,
• Costume requirements minimal- can be obtained from various sources. Some hire may be required.

Barry Slack.