My Wonderful Day

Title: My Wonderful Day
Author: Ayckbourn, Alan
Price: $23.95

Play - Full Length. M2 F3, 1 girl (aged 9). Downstairs areas in a modern town house.

Winnie is nearly nine. Her mum, Laverne, is second-generation Afro-Caribbean and heavily pregnant but continues with her cleaning job since her husband left while she dreams of moving the family back to Martinique. Tuesdays are special: Laverne insists that Winnie speaks only French (in preparation for Martinique) and today is Tuesday - not her usual day to clean at the north London house of Kevin Tate, an affluent, bad-tempered, philandering, minor television personality. Not well enough to go to school, Winnie accompanies her mum and settles down to her homework: an essay entitled \"My Wonderful Day\". Throughout the course of the next few hours, the shy, astute and ever-watchful Winnie will amass plenty of material for her essay as a variety of adults parades before her: Kevin's baby-talking and patronizing mistess, his vengeful wife, and the hungover family friend who pours out his heart believing that Winnie doesn't speak English. But as events reach a frenzied climax, Winnie's essay will speak volumes.

This hilarious and bitter-sweet classic from Alan Ayckbourn premiered a tthe Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough before transferring to New York and a UK tour. The play is told through the child's eyes, without an interval, and there is much scope for imaginative lighting and staging.

\"... a startling play full of Ayckbourn's rueful, comic wisdom.\" Michael Billington, Guardian

Winnie (Winona) Barnstairs, nearly 9. Laverne Barnstairs, her mother, late 20s/early 30s. The Man (Kevin Tate), 40s. Paula, his wife, late 30s. Tiffany, the secretary, 20s. Josh, the friend, 40s.

Author's note on the casting: \"It is appreciated that one of the dificulties of this play is in casting Winnie the right age. Either she needs to be played by a young actor of a similar age with all the ensuing legal and logistical problems which casting an under-age performer entails or the role may be played by a slightly older actor who is able to create a truthful and credible impression of the character's age. This, after all, is theatre! In either case, it is vital that the role is not in any way \"up-aged\". Winnie is a child and this play is told through a child's eyes.\"

Publisher: Samuel French Ltd
Publication date: 01/01/2010
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780573113048
Publishing status: OS Archived