Play On! Back Stories 2017

Albany New York-The most “average” American town.

2010

What time of year:

Spring

March……

1982-Para-troopers?

Polly (teacher) /Henry (plumber)

Meet in acting class-B.U.

Live in NY

Married after school at the age of 22

No kids

Age: 55

Henry resents Polly because she cannot have kids

Henry cheated on Polly

No therapy-group activity-join the theater company

Polly-emotional eating disorder

Henry-sleeps on the couch sometimes-and in separate beds.

Polly and Smitty!!!

Henry/Saul-agrees with what he is saying about Polly

Henry/Billy-doesn’t care for him at all.

Billy 

(age-25) and Saul (age-45) are best-buds.

“Bro-mance”

Worked together before.

Billy feels bad for Henry…enjoys the jokes that Saul makes.

New England college…accounting…theater program.

Only child-came from a wealthy background….feels superior to the rest of the cast.

Maybe respects Gerry.

Saul 

Likes Billy-goes out and hangs.

A bit nervous around Henry.  Picks on Polly because she is an easy target.  Polly’s gloating is annoying.

2 older brothers-was being picked on.  Just behaving how he was treated by his siblings.

Gerry (age 38)

Aggie and she grew up together in Albany.

Passion for theater.  Wanted to go in to the city.

Name of the theater company:  Albany Manor

Loved to act.   Married to Frank.  Kept her married name.

Was asked to direct Albany Manor-for over 10 years.

Aggie

Military Family-no college.  Signed up-boot camp.  Shaved head.  Father was strict

Brother…likes order-should show her military background through posture/gestures. 

2 separate work stations for the set? Used to male power figures.  Pacing.

Violet- (age 22)

Grew Up in Albany.  Upper Middle Class-one sister…starred in her high school shows. Intimated from all the talent in the city.  Lives in an apartment with two friends.  Barrista…insecure about talent. On and off relationship with Billy-same college. Freshman/Sophomore….Junior/Senior year.

Smitty (17) 

Albany…high school.  Only child-overbearing mother.  Major tests-bio.  Needs to be a perfectionist.  Saul drives her to practice.  Can’t be independent.  Modest outfits.  Nerves getters.  Childish mannerism.

 

Phyllis and Polly

Teacher’s lounge-assistant director to the high school.  Bond because we never had friends.  Needs moments to shine.  Gets Phyllis to write a play for her.

Phyllis (age 56) took many years to write the play.  Re-acquainted friends.

Friendship was genuine then fake.  Traditional “old fashioned” family.  Teacher/house wife.  Pottery classes….tried to find “herself”.  Plays the flute.

Gullible-chasing dreams.  Low self-esteem-over compensates for that.

Louise (age 31)

Intern to Aggie/Gerry.  Divorced family.  College in N.Y.

Grew up in Albany.  No family-but theater folks. Out of college at 20.  Resent actors. MEGAPHONE! Fit in with everyone else.  Respects Gerry/Aggie.

Murder Most Foul:

In Depth

Accents?

Different postures when switching characters