A Better You

A Better You By Mark C Bourne Directed by Fran Gordon A Better You tells the story of a group of five very different women who meet every week at the local community hall. They spend their time organising jumble sales and fair days, and inviting guest speakers to their weekly meetings. On the evening that the play begins, unbeknownst to the group, Cathy-Anne has been booked to do a presentation to them regarding ‘A Better You’, the self-help program that she represents. Unfortunately for Cathy-Anne, the women are a rather mixed bunch with their own concerns and very easily distracted. Things do not go according to plan! Did Bella’s husband really leave her for a biker called Hammer? Is it the Girl Guides that keep stealing the toilet paper? Will Mildred ever master her Monterey Turn? In the midst of trying to run her presentation, Cathy-Anne is constantly harassed via mobile by Barry, her partner, to discuss the lack of offspring in their increasingly rocky relationship. Cathy-Anne teeters dangerously on the edge of a total breakdown and in their misguided attempts to help, the women accidentally kill her with a combination of Valium and dog tranquilisers. Now what on earth will they do with an unexpected body? Just when they think that they have managed to safely stash poor Cathy-Anne in the Gents toilet, they find out that the hall has been double-booked... Playing dates are 10–13, 17–20, 22, 24-26 November 2011 Reading 2pm on Saturday 9 July 2011 Auditions 2pm on Saturday 16 July 2011 To be held at Stirling Theatre, Morris Place, Innaloo For more information, contact the Director Fran Gordon on 9447 3820 or email fmgordo@bigpond.com. CHARACTERS Cathy-Anne 30s, power-dressed in a trouser suit and big hair. She is patronising, irritable and clearly at the end of a very short fuse. Bella 40-50s, bold and upfront former ‘biker chick.’ She is rather bitter and has a sarcastic and blunt sense of humour. Josie 30-50s, mousey hair, rather plain, baggy clothes and large glasses. She has an inventive imagination, a breast obsession and hidden murky depths. Patricia 30-50s, school teacher, highly nervous and prone to hyperventilating. She has a fondness for hippie skirts and tie-dyed clothes. Constance 40-60s, doctor’s wife. Perfectly presented with class and elegance. Natural leader and seen by the others as the ‘rock’ of the group. Mildred 60-70s eccentric, with tonnes of hobbies. Dresses wildly in country western outfits, including cowboy boots and a moped helmet. Maxine 40-50s, a ballroom dancer. Snooty and over-groomed. Dominating and bossy. Clifford 40-50s, a ballroom dancer with a fake tan. Uncomfortable with his dancing prowess and appears to be under Maxine’s thumb. PLEASE DO NOT RELY ON THE COMMENTS SECTION OF THIS POST FOR PROMPT REPLIES TO QUERIES. PLEASE USE THE CONTACT DETAILS PROVIDED.