amdram.co.uk

9 October 4.00pm, 10 October 7.45 pm, Old Court Theatre, Springfield Rd, Chelmsford

Performances are 7-11 February 2012

The Play

Man and Boy is a study of a ruthless, sociopathic businessman: his inability to love and the impact of this on others (notably, his son and his wife). The central character was loosely based on the lives of two well known business moguls of the thirties, but the character’s resemblance to Robert Maxwell, or, more recently, Bernard Madoff, will resonate with modern audiences. It was revived in 2005 with David Suchet in the lead role. The play is set in a basement apartment inGreenwich Village,New York.

The action is continuous between 6.00pm and 8.30pm on a July night in 1934. It surrounds a well known financier of Rumanian extraction, Gregor Antonescu, and his estranged son, who has changed his name to Basil Anthony, and who lives in the apartment. Gregor arrives unexpectedly, apparently to take refuge from the press after a disastrous day on the stock exchange for his holding company. As the play unfolds it becomes clear that Gregor’s motives are less straightforward and we discover more about the relationship between Gregor and Basil, and the callous lengths to which Gregor will go to secure his crumbling empire.

Man and Boy is a typically well-constructed Rattigan drama, which we are presenting in celebration of his centenary year.

The Cast

The ages given by the playwright are as described, but there is some latitude, depending on availability and mix of auditionees.

• Carol Penn – early/mid twenties – Basil’s girlfriend – American, an actress. A smallish part
• Basil Anthony – early/mid twenties – Gregor’s son – English, boyishly good-looking, attractive to both sexes. A large part
• Gregor Antonescu – middle aged – Rumanian – handsome, powerful, charming, will need to sustain a vaguely East European accent. A large part
• Sven Johnson – middle aged – Rumanian – Gregor’s long time partner and family friend, will need to sustain a vaguely East European accent. A largish part
• Mark Herries – fifties – a suave, well educated, Harvard type American businessman. A medium sized part
• David Beeston – mid/upper thirties – American – an accountant employed by Herries’ company. A medium sized part
• Countess Antonescu – twenties/thirties – Gregor’s wife. A Londoner, sometime typist in Gregor’sLondonoffice. A smallish role.