Auditions - "Crimes of the Heart"

At the core of the tragic comedy are the three Magrath sisters, Meg, Babe, and Lenny, who reunite at Old Granddaddy’s home in Hazlehurst, Mississippi after Babe shoots her abusive husband. The sisters were raised in adysfunctional family - their mother committed suicide and their father was absent during their upbringing. Each sister has endured her share of hardship and misery. Past resentments bubble to the surface as they’re forced todeal with assorted relatives and past relationships while coping with the latest incident that has disrupted their lives. Each sister is forced to face the consequences of the “crimes of the heart” she has committed

Director Sue Mandzik Davis ~ Stage Manager Laura Byrne-Cristiano

CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS

Lenora (Lenny) Magrath (female, 30) The oldest of the three sisters. Her sisters have forgotten her birthday, only adding to her feeling of rejection. Lenny is frustrated after years of carryingheavy burdens of responsibility. Most recently, she has been caring for Old Granddaddy,sleeping on a cot in the kitchen to be near him. Lenny loves her sisters but is also jealous ofthem, especially Meg, whom she feels received preferential treatment during their upbringing.While almost continuously pushed beyond the point of frustration, Lenny nevertheless has aclose bond of loyalty with her sisters.

Meg Magrath (female, 27) The middle sister. At eleven, Meg discovered the body of their mother (and that of the family cat) following her suicide. This traumatic experience provokedMeg to test her strength by confronting morbidity wherever she could find it. At the beginning ofthe play Meg returns to Mississippi from California, where her singing career has stalled and where, she later tells Doc, she had a nervous breakdown and ended up in the psychiatric ward ofthe county hospital. Lenny and Babe feel that Meg has always received preferential treatment inlife.

Rebecca (Babe) Botrelle (female, 24) The youngest sister. At first, the only explanation shegives for shooting her husband Zackery is "I didn't like his looks! I just didn't like his stinkinglooks!" Eventually, she reveals that the shooting was the result of her anger at Zackery's crueltreatment both of her and of Willie Jay, a fifteen year-old African American boy with whom Babe had been carrying on an affair. Babe makes two attempts to kill herself late in the play, butafter being rescued by Meg, Babe appears enlightened and at peace with her mother's suicide.

Chick Boyle (female, 35+) The sisters' first cousin. She is a very demanding relative andextremely concerned about the community's opinion of her. Chick is critical of all aspects of the Magrath's family and is always bringing up past tragedies such as the mother's suicide. Chick isespecially hard on Meg, whom she finds undisciplined and calls a "low-class tramp," and on Babe, who "doesn't understand how serious the situation is" after shooting Zackery.

Doc Porter (male, 30) Meg's old boyfriend. He is still known affectionately as "Doc" althoughhis plans for a medical career changed after he was severely injured in Hurricane Camille. Doc,who now has his own wife and children, nevertheless remains close to the Magrath family.Although Meg abandoned him when she left for California, Doc remains fond of her, and Meg isextremely happy to have his friendship upon her return to Mississippi.

Barnette Lloyd (male, 26) Babe's lawyer. An ambitious, talented attorney, Barnette viewsBabe's case as a chance to exact personal revenge on Zackery. "The major thing he did," Barnettesays, "was to ruin my father's life." Barnette also seems to have a strong attraction to Babe,whom he remembers distinctly from a chance meeting.

Performances: March 15 – 30, 2013

Sides will be provided.Visit http://studioplayhouse.org/auditions‐crimes‐of‐the‐heart to view sides.