Cosi

Cosi by Louis Nowra

Our April 2010 production is to be the Australian play Cosi, written by Louis Nowra, to be directed by Ruth Crawley, assisted by Pam Campbell. The show will open on 15 April 2010.

Ruth is a local teacher from St Peter's Catholic College at Tuggerah. WDG Audiences may remember the play Means of Happiness presented at the 2008 TheatreFest on the Friday Night by students from St Peter's College, which, although not technically entered in the TheatreFest, was considered good enough by the adjudicator to win the John Axford Memorial Award.

Crew Wanted!!

Ever wanted to join Wyong Drama Group? Here's the perfect chance to see just what goes on behind the scenes by joining in the crew of our latest show. Our production manager is Josh Aspinall, and he is the man to speak to if you can help us in any way. Josh is looking for a full crew comprising of publicity officer, set construction manager, stage manager, lighting designer & operator, front of house manager, makeup applicator, costume co-ordinator, prompt and ticketing co-ordinator. There are probably a few other jobs we need as well! Closer to the show we will also need help as ushers, programme and ticket sellers, caterers and others. If you're interested in any of these jobs, and want to meet friends and influence people, please give Josh a ring on 0431-985-391 or you can email jablack@aapt.net.au

Casting!

Auditions were held on Tuesday 24th November and Thursday 26th November at 7:30pm in the Green Room, and Ruth has managed to get a great cast.

	Roy: Laszlo Weidlich
	Cherry: Debbi Clarke
	Ruth: Pam Campbell
	Zac: Steve Cummings
	Doug: Mike McLeod
	Henry: Brendon Flynn
	Lewis: Stephen McDonald
	Nick: Marc Calwell
	Lucy: Sara Brown
	Julie: Sophie Berry-Porter
	Justine: Cathy De Vries

Plot Summaries

(A) It is 1971 and Lewis, a young director, agrees to stage a production of Mozart’s Così Fan Tutte with a cast of patients from a mental institution. There is no orchestra, no one can sing and the theatre is nothing more than a burnt out shell. Beyond the walls of the institution, citizens march against their government’s involvement in a war and Lewis’ relationship falters. As the production lurches forward, Lewis realizes it doesn’t hurt to be a little crazy.

(B) Lewis Riley, the main character, is a sleek young, inexperienced university student who is given the task of directing a play in a mental hospital. At first he is not keen to do so, giving the reason for having taken on this job as "I need the money". The venue is a theatre that smells of "burnt wood and mould", the cast are patients with very diverse needs, and the play is Mozart's Così Fan Tutte. Through working with the patients, Lewis eventually discovers a new side of himself which allows him to become emotionally involved and to value love, while anti-Vietnam war protests erupt in the streets outside.

Characters

There are 7 Male, and 4 Female speaking parts.

The Actors in the 1996 movie are given in parenthesis following the character description

	Lewis, a sleek young, inexperienced university student (Ben Mendelsohn)
	Lucy, Lewis's not-so-faithful girlfriend (Rachel Griffiths)
	Nick, whose strongly left-wing ideals Lewis has followed up until now without question (Aden Young)
	Roy, a manic-depressive with a passion for theatre who has spent most of his life in institutions (Barry Otto)
	Cherry, a Lewis-addicted romantic and compulsive liar. Has been in institutions for some time. (Jackie Weaver)
	Ruth, obsessed with counting and distinguishing illusions and reality (Pamela Rabe)
	Doug, a pyromaniac so awful he is almost likeable (David Wenham)
	Julie, a pretty junkie - first time in a mental institution (Toni Collette)
	Henry, an older, silent man, previously a lawyer. Mostly inarticulate but blossoms later in the piece. (Paul Chubb)
	Zac, a drugged up pianist, extremely unpredictable (Colin Hay)
	Justin, a social worker (character not in movie)

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