Spring Show: May 2-17

Don’t dress for dinner

playwright: marc camoletti

Director: patrick cope

Producer: jane healy

synopsis:

Bernard plans for a night in with his mistress, Suzanne, while his wife Jacqueline goes to visit her mother. Using his best friend, Robert, as part of his alibi, Bernard tells Jacqueline they are planning a bachelor’s night in. However, unbeknownst to Bernard, his wife Jacqueline is having an affair with his friend and decides to stay when she hears Robert is spending the night. Bernard and Robert must keep their story straight to fool Jacqueline, initially telling her that the soon-to-arrive Suzanne is Robert’s girlfriend. Things get complicated as Suzette, the cordon bleu chef Bernard hired to cook for his date night, is mistaken for Bernard’s girlfriend by Robert and becomes an integral part of their cover story. As the night goes on, the truth may come out to some degree, amidst the cover stories and mistaken identities.

Character Descriptions (6 roles - 3M, 3F)

Bernard (20s-30s):Husband of Jacqueline and involved in an affair with Suzanne. When his
plans for a night in with his mistress fall through, Bernard must concoct an ever-changing,
elaborate ruse to keep his wife blissfully ignorant of his affair.

Jacqueline (20s-30s):Wife of Bernard and involved in an affair with Bernard’s best friend (and
best man) Robert. When Bernard tells her Robert’s planning to spend the night, she makes it
her mission to keep her husband blissfully ignorant of her affair, so hopefully she can enjoy
some alone time with her lover.

Robert (30s-40s): Best friend (and best man) of Bernard. Lured to Bernard/Jacqueline’s home
under false pretenses, Robert becomes an unwitting co-conspirator in best friend’s cover story to hide his affairs from his wife. In many ways, Robert wishes to do the right thing, though no doubt hopes the night will end with him having some private time with Jacqueline as well.
Note: role of Robert may involve acting “intoxicated” (drunk) at point. Please indicate your level of comfort with this, it will not affect casting.

Suzette (30s-50+): A highly-rated cordon bleu chef for Bon Appetit Catering Agency. Suzette is hired by Bernard to cook for his date night, but is mistaken for Bernard’s girlfriend by his friend. Seeing the opportunity to earn some extra cash, Suzette plays along with the ruse and agrees to pose as Robert’s actress girlfriend (who is also a model!). As Bernard’s scheme becomes more complicated, so to does Suzette’s role in the whole affair.
Note: the role of Suzette may include some partial nudity (shirt/blouse removed briefly) and acting “intoxicated” (drunk). Please indicate your levels of comfort with these, it will not affect casting.

Suzanne (20s-30s): Bernard’s mistress. An all-around classy woman who also becomes an unwitting accomplice in Bernard’s scheme. She arrives prepared for a lovely date night with her sweetie, but ultimately must pose as the cook to keep the story going, even though she cannot cook.

George (30s-50+): A big guy, Suzette’s husband and co-worker at Bon Appetit. George gets thrown straight into the middle of this whole situation during Act II when he comes to pick up his wife. Tensions rise as George tries to work out exactly what is going on and how his wife is involved.