Description:
There are roles for 10 women and 7 men. All roles are open. Character ages range from 14 to 60+
Lanford Wilson's play has been described as a darkly modern "Our Town." In the small town of Eldritch, a man has been shot and killed. Everyone knows who pulled the trigger, but no one knows everything that led up to the killing.
In Wilson's powerful play, he exposes the corrosive effects of small minded jealousies and mistaken assumptions. When the shocking truth is finally revealed, no one has been untouched by the taint of the brutal crime.
Rehearsals will be scheduled four times a week.
There are additional positions behind the scenes. There is no pay.
More about the characters:
WOMEN:
Eva Jackson, a crippled girl, fourteen. She befriends Robert and is a witness to the murder. "Everybody knows what they want – it's what they think they really can do that they don't know."
Evelyn Jackson, Eva Jackson's mother. Protective of Eva, defends her from accusations of involvement with Robert. "Don't you talk back to me, what do you do, little miss smarty pants?"
Nelly Windrod, a strong woman, middle aged. She is on trial for Skelly's murder. "Only God in Heaven knows the trials that poor woman has had to bear."
Mary Windrod, Nelly Windrod's senile mother, talks as though she were describing a beautiful dream to a pet canary. "Us dry old women rattle like paper."
Patsy Johnson, the prettiest girl at Centerville High School. Engaged to her boyfriend. "Deformed people ought to be put out of sight…I mean people with deformed minds as well, too; don't think I'm forgetting that."
Mavis Johnson, Patsy Johnson's mother. "I guess you know we're planning a wedding; I said it wasn't any use having a church wedding, all amounts to the same."
Lena Truit, Patsy's girl friend, same age as Patsy. Plans to wait to get married to Josh until she graduates. "A dog can tell an evil person; a dog can tell; they're all scared of [Skelly]."
Martha Truit, Lena's mother. Town gossip, comments on everyone in town with Wilma. "Well, we can think what we think, but we can't do anything."
Wilma Atkins, Martha's friend. Town gossip, comments on everyone in town with Martha. "Well, what I heard isn't fit for talk, but I heard that Mrs. Cora Groves, up on the highway…?"
Cora Groves, owner of the Hilltop Café, mid to late 30s. Independent minded, she has an affair with Walter. "I've always had a dream, an idea, of maybe leaving here…I know the business, if I could sell this place."
MEN:
Robert Conklin, a boy, eighteen. He is befriended by Eva. "Never spoke to anyone in his life anyway. [He] doesn't hang around with us or anyone else his own age."
Peck Johnson, Patsy Johnson's father. Farmer. "When I was a young man like Josh or younger we used to give old Skelly a ‘baaaa' sometimes…"
Josh Johnson, Patsy Johnson's brother, six years older. He is dating Lena. "Driver and me was gonna run [Skelly] out of town once; I think we got drunk instead."
Skelly Mannor, the town hermit, about sixty. "Everybody was scared of him….grumbling and mumbling around." "How can you tell how old he is, through all that filth."
Preacher/Judge, played by the same actor, in mid-fifties "It is the soul and responsibility of our very community…The blindness from which we allowed evil in our lives."
Walter, Cora's lover, is younger than Cora. "We spend more time upstairs than down." Some of the girls in town have a crush on him.
Trucker, at the Hilltop Café, and also in scenes with the other townspeople. "I don't believe I've ever seen the rains so hard….the floods was bad for you."
Time Commitment:
The Rimers of Eldritch Opens October 15th and runs three weekends through October 31st.
