Play name
Our Lady of Blundellsands
By Jonathan Harvey
Director
Roxana Graves
Playing dates
Thursday 4th November to Saturday 13th November. The first Thursday is a private charity show; there is no performance on Sunday 7th November; and there is a matinee on Saturday 6th November.
Get-in and strike
Get-in: 17th October. Strike: 14th November.
Venue
BLT Main House
Audition
2.30pm, Sunday 11th April 2027
About the play
Sylvie lives in blissful isolation, frozen in a world of her own creation. But as generations gather beneath one roof to celebrate her sister Garnet’s 65th birthday, her fantasy world is about to be shattered. In a family where even the skeletons in the cupboard have their own skeletons, prepare for bubbling resentment, ridiculous showdowns and hilarious chaos.
Time
2020
Location
Blundellsands, a residential suburb on Merseyside
Style and genre
Dark comic drama
Characters
SYLVIE 60 – Larger than life character, and certainly larger than reality. Sylvie lives in a complete fantasy world, taking centre stage as some sort of ‘superstar’, she is very grandiose in her communication and has no filter, she also drinks and smokes heavily. Very reliant on Garnet.
GARNET 65 – older sister to Sylvie, responsible, practical, helped to raise her sister’s two children and keeps the family together. She enables her sister to remain in the fantasy bubble she has created. Eccentric in her own way.
The sisters do not come from Liverpool, were privately educated and will require RP accents. Please be aware that there is a lot of fast-paced, witty dialogue between the sisters; they are both quick and articulate, if not always coherent.
MICKEY-JOE 46 – Oldest child of Sylvie, is a reasonably successful drag queen by the name of Crystal Fist. Not his mother’s favourite child; Sylvie prefers Crystal. He is in a long-term relationship with Frankie, who is also his manager.
Liverpudlian accent required.
FRANKIE 38 – Originally from Essex, Frankie was a fan of Crystal and became his manager and partner. They have been together for 20 years, are adopting a baby and live in Brighton. Frankie finds it difficult spending time with his partner’s family. Black or mixed race.
LEE LEE 26 – Sylvie’s youngest son. She believes he is a film star and has been away making a movie, which is how she explains his absence; he is, in fact, a criminal. Described as handsome, shiny and a bit of a hipster, he does care for his mother and aunt and is the golden child.
Will require Liverpudlian accent.
ALYSSA 20’s – Lee Lee’s girlfriend. They have a fairly solid relationship. She is thoughtful and kind, but is also streetwise and nobody’s fool. She gets on well with Garnet and is a fan of Crystal, but has a slightly more difficult time with Sylvie.
Liverpudlian accent required.
Audition pieces
TBC