Written By: Henning Nelms

Directed by Barry Hill

Synopsis:  The Orphan Girl is a long-suffering young lady who seems destined not only to lose her lover but her life as well. The familiar characters of old-time melodrama here play their roles up to the hilt. The most thrilling scene is that in which dynamite (planted by the villain) is about to blow all the good characters to eternity. Just in time, however, Lucy picks up the dynamite and throws it out the door.

On reflection, though, it seems that the thrill just described is actually topped by the even more exciting scene in the sawmill, where Nellie, tied to a log, is approaching the circular saw which in a moment will tear her to pieces. The hero, who has been tied by the villain, is freed just in time to thrust aside the latter who draws a pistol on him and threatens to kill him if he dares touch the lever that will save Nellie. The villain fires. The hero is wounded. And, at this very instant, a friend opportunely appears to snare the villain, and Nellie is safe in the arms of her hero.

Role Name:  Arthur Rutherford                  Gender:  Male                   Stage Age:  30+

Role Information:  The villain – stage age 30s, 40s, or 50s – sly, manipulating, cunning, a womaniser, able to ‘work the audience’ English or American accent – 140 cues

Role Name:  Dick Perkins                              Gender:  Male                   Stage Age:  20s

Role Information:  A clean cut farm lad – stage age 20s or early 30s – country yokel, decent, highly principled, the hero – American accent – 50 cues

Role Name:  Nellie                                          Gender:  Female              Stage Age:  20s

Role Information:  The orphan girl – stage age 20s – pure as the driven snow, innocent (or is she?), the heroine – American accent – 75 cues

Role Name:  Ethel Rutherford                     Gender:  Female              Stage Age:  40s

Role Information:  A fair stranger – stage age 40s or 50s – Arthur’s wife (Arthur left her 4 years previously), as sly and cunning as Arthur – a femme fatale- English or American accent – 52 cues

Role Name:  Mr Perkins                                Gender:  Male                   Stage Age:   50s

Role Information:  Dick’s Father – stage age 50s or 60s – not blessed with brains, acts before he thinks, protective of Nellie – American accent – 45 cues

Role Name:  Mrs Perkins                               Gender:  Female              Stage Age:  50s

Role Information:  Dick’s Mother – stage age 50s or 60s – slightly brighter than her husband, puts up with him, long suffering – American accent – 26 cues

Role Name:  Widow Appleby                      Gender:  Female              Stage Age:  50+

Role Information:  A neighbour – stage age 50s up – Lucy’s mother, holder of the mortgage on the Perkin’s farm, a yokel- dispenser of wisdom -American accent – 33 cues

Role Name:  Lucy                                       Gender:  Female              Stage Age:  20+

Role Information:  A ray of sunshine – Stage age 20s, 30s or 40s – Widow Appleby’s daughter, a friend of Nellie’s, more innocent than Nellie (if possible), a small but fun role – her memorable scene involves a bomb that is about to explode – American accent- 15 cues

Audition Contact Name:  Barry Hill

Audition Contact Email:  barry1953@hotmail.com

Audition Contact Phone Number:  0400 827 634