Waiting For Gateaux by Ed Waugh and Trevor Wood
Directed by Paul Carr and Jane Frohock
Produced by Samantha Quinn
Show dates – Mon 17th – Sat 22nd April 2023
Audition date – Wednesday 1st March @ 7:30pm
Unfortunately we are having to replace our scheduled April show, “Arsenic and Old Lace” which was due to be performed on 17th-22nd April. In its place we are staging “Waiting for Gateaux” – a hilarious modern comedy about the worst health and fitness club in the country – written by Ed Waugh and Trevor Wood (the writers of the popular hit “Dirty Dusting”)
Mo-tivators is the worst health and fitness club in the country – where you can have your cake and eat it!. Run by Maureen a ‘big-boned’ fifty-something widow from a small hall in the middle of nowhere it only attracts clientele who have nothing better to do.
Jackie comes to get away from her philandering husband and she’s started to bring her young sister Whitney along to keep her out of trouble. Donald comes because he secretly loves Maureen – he’s lost 12 stone so far – if he doesn’t ask her out soon there’ll be nothing left of him!
Things seem to be on the up when Sophie, a researcher for a reality TV programme, comes to check out the club but when a snowstorm arrives it brings with it revelations which will change their lives forever in this comedy about friendship, frostbite and French fries.
This show is going to be great fun – so please come and be a part of it!
Character list:
Maureen – 50s – a widow and the overweight owner of Mo-tivators.
Jackie – 30s – an overweight client of Mo-tivators who’s greengrocer husband is having an affair (which everyone except Jackie is aware of)
Donald – 50s – a tax inspector who is in love with Maureen – was once huge but is now very slim and only keeps coming to the group so he can see Maureen.
Whitney – late teens – Jackie’s sister and a bit of a juvenile delinquent who Jackie brings to the sessions to keep her out of trouble despite her not being overweight. A mechanic and a goth who prefers to go by the name of “Raven”
Sophie – 20s/30s – a TV researcher who keeps herself fit and dresses to impress, with designer clothes and accessories.
All the parts are roughly equal in size and most of the characters are on stage for the majority of the performance – there are no ‘walk-on’ parts. Ages listed are playing ages – there is some flexibility in the exact ages as long as the balance is approximately correct. The only stipulation is that Whitney needs to be played by someone aged 16+ who has left high school for child licencing reasons.
Please be aware that two of the characters (Maureen and Jackie) are written as ‘overweight’ – how overweight is not specified but it needs to be convincing that they have been going to the same slimming club for years without any successful results. Also – all the characters spend a fair amount of the show in lycra gym kits and sweatbands so we are probably looking for cast members who aren’t too shy and reserved!
If you would like a copy of the script to read ahead of the auditions then please email pcarruk@gmail.com. We are hoping to announce the cast on audition night and so if you are unable to make that evening for any reason but would still like to be considered then please email us at the same address and we will try to arrange to see you on an earlier date.
We look forward to seeing you at the auditions!
Note for Arsenic & Old Lace ticket-holders. We will be in touch when the new plans are finalised. Thanks for bearing with us.
