Please note: Ages indicated represent character ages, not necessarily the auditionee’s physical age.

LOTTY WILTON 30s - A Hampstead housewife who has become disenchanted with her life and marriage. She shifts from an almost magical optimism to heartbreaking sadness again and again. When she is enthusiastic her energy can almost become annoying. A charming character who believes that wonderful things can still happen in the world.

MELLERSH WILTON 30s - Lotty's husband and a solicitor. He is a social climber with an eye for the regular. He expects the world to be as he wishes it to be. Appearances are everything to him and he is unable to cope with even the slightest changes to his routines.

ROSE ARNOTT 30s/40s - A Hampstead housewife who is identified as"the disappointed Madonna". A lovely woman who has known great tragedy and yet still possess a distinct beauty. She hides behind her daily routines and though she secretly wishes for better days she would dutifully remain ordinary before taking a risk.

FREDERICK ARNOTT 30s/40s - Rose's husband and a writer. Frederick pays the bills by writing steamy romance novels, much to his pious wife's demise. He genuinely loves his wife, but due to a tragedy they have both endured (and which has put a rift between them) he has begun an affair with Lady Caroline Bramble under his pen name, Florean Ayers.

CAROLINE BRAMBLE 20s/30s - Caroline is a socialite. Money seems to be no object to her. She is a "modern" and because of her wealth and position is able to do and say what she wants. She is a much deeper person than she initially appears to be and also harbors a sadness that adds to her character.

ANTONY WILDING 20s/30s - Antony is an artist and the owner of a beautiful castle in Italy. He has inherited his wealth and position, but is sweet and kind to everyone. He has a charming sense of humor and, because he is an artist, seems to be able to see through almost everyone.

MRS. GRAVES 50s/60s/70s - Mrs. Graves is a London matron. She is staunch, humorless and unable to deviate from that which she views as proper and acceptable. Much of the humor she brings to the show stems from her inability to see what a curmudgeon she has become. In spite of her devotion to propriety, she becomes a warmer person.

COSTANZA 50s/60s - Costanza is an Italian housekeeper. Her role is very challenging because she speaks only in Italian. In spite of this, it is easy for the audience to understand what she means. She is devoted to Antony, whom she treats like a son and she is kind to all the guests except for Mrs. Graves.

NOTE: All of the characters in this play use a proper British accent except for Costanza. All of the characters speak in Italian at some point.

Additional Information: Please be prepared to list all potential rehearsal conflicts on the audition form. Selected readings of the play will be used for the auditions. It is highly advised that auditionees be familiar with the entire play.

Perusal copies may be borrowed for a limited time. Please be aware that limited copies are available. For perusal copies or additional information, contact the Guild's Casting Governor, Nancy Valentini, at casting@playersguildofdearborn.org or (313) 561-TKTS.