"Picnic"

[kathryn_with_a_y]

Posted: 11/18/05 at 9:15pm

Hey guys, I have an audition coming up for a straight show called "Picnic" and I know nothing about it. Is anyone accquainted with the show or have any links to sites about it?? I could use all the help I can get.
Thanks,
Kate

[CapnHook]

Posted: 11/18/05 at 9:20pm

It's based off a movie (or vice versa) of the same name, starring Alec Baldwin I believe. My college did it last year.

Small show. Cast of 7 or 8. Set in a small town. About love.

[Aigoo]

Posted: 11/18/05 at 9:29pm

By William Inges, if I remember correctly.


Basically, cool, slacking off-ish guy comes in small, quiet town. Everyone is "eh" about him except this one girl, who is supposedly quite stunning. Her little sister has a tough time fitting in because she's a bit tomboy-ish. The little sister ends up really liking some guy older than her and the stunningly beautiful girl ends up running off with the slacking off-ish guy, leaving her sort of conservative boyfriend/fiancee? I can't remember whether they were engaged or not.

[Demitri2]

Posted: 11/18/05 at 9:31pm

It was a big hit from the fifties. William Inge, Janice Rule on Broadway, Kim Novak on film. A hunky William Holden and a mean spirited drunk Roz Russell to boot. Go rent the movie and forget the tv remake. "Theme from Picnic" (or Moon Glow) is still a great movie theme.

[kathryn_with_a_y]

Posted: 11/18/05 at 9:40pm

Thanks everyone!
Can any of you give me a little bit of a run down of female characters in it. All female characters because I'm not sure what to audition for. I've played Patty Simcox in Grease but I've also Played Anne Frank. So I don't care what type of character it is. Thanks!

[CapnHook]

Posted: 11/18/05 at 10:30pm

Go for the younger sister, based on previous roles.

[Mamie]

Posted: 11/18/05 at 11:03pm

Little sister is ok for a younger role but the female role with the real meat on it is the old maid teacher. Roz Russell knocked this one out of the park.

[Jon]

Posted: 11/18/05 at 11:16pm

Here are the female roles:

Madge Owens - a gorgeous but not too smart 19 year old.

Millie Owens - her 15 year-old sister - a smart but awkward tomboy.

Flo Owens - their mother - an attractive 40-=something widow.

Rosemary Sydney - a 40-ish sexually repressed "spinster schoolteacher"

Helen Potts - the kindly 50-something widow next door.

Plus Irma and Christine - two other school teachers (bit parts)

The movie was popular, even though William Holden and Kim Novak were way too old for their roles.

[WindyCityActor]

Posted: 11/18/05 at 11:24pm

Rosemary, the spinster, has the best scenes.

[kathryn_with_a_y]

Posted: 11/19/05 at 11:49am

Thanks guys you've been really helpful. I'm still a little torn about who to go out for, but thanks for everything! You guys are great.

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/19/05 at 12:16pm

This play won the Pulitzer Prize. It's a true American classic.

It's starred Ralph Meeker and Janice Rule on Broadway. The tomboy younger sister was Kim Stanley (she was 28 at the time, and played a BELIEVABLE 16 --- there is a legendary story about her audition for the part). The "old maid" school teacher Rosemary was Eileen Heckart (played by a brilliant Roz Russell in the film). Arthur O'Connell, Rita Shaw and (the other bit part school teacher) all repeated their stage roles in the film. It was nominated for Best Picture and was a big hit. So was the theme song.

Kim Novak was not actually too old for the part. She was 22 playing 18. The problem is that Kim didn't look (or more importantly SOUND) 22. She always was a more mature presence than her actual age.

All that aside, Millie the tomboy younger sister can totally steal the show, if played right (aka, to the hilt). I saw an all-star, Broadway-worthy production of it at the Ahmanson in Los Angeles, back in 1986, with Jennifer Jason Leigh (Madge), Dana Hill (Millie), Rue McLenahan (their mother Flo), Michael Lerned (Rosemary), Conchatta Ferrell (Mrs. Potts), Gregory Harrison (Hal), Dick Van Patton (Howard), etc. Dana Hill was incredible and received a thunderous standing ovation at the end (and won the L.A. Drama Critics' Circle Award for her performance).

Interesting to note: Paul Newman played Alan Benson in the original Broadway production. He was hired as an understudy, but elevated to the second male lead out of town. He met a young lady doing this show who was hired to understudy both Madge and Millie. Her name was Joanne Woodward.

Updated On: 11/19/05 at 12:16 PM

[kathryn_with_a_y]

Posted: 11/19/05 at 12:49pm

wow. Thanks for the background Best12Bars. I really think I'm going to audition for Millie. Any hints? character wise I mean. Anything I should know?

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/19/05 at 12:53pm

Definitely read the play. See how Millie reacts to things: her older beautiful sister, life in general, the people around her. Her goals and dreams. She's very funny, sometimes unintentionally so. And she's a rebellious romantic at heart. But she's a kid... with "kid feelings."

It's all there in the writing.