Author Archives: robbucher

Beechmont Players is going to hold another ZOOM play reading on SUNDAY afternoon, April 11^th from 2:00 to 5:00. (It’s another long one—I promise we’ll go for a more reasonably timed farce the next time!)  The play is LADY WINDEMERE’S FAN,a periiod drama (see below).  But it’s by Oscar Wilde, so as usual it’s full of subtle and witty social commentary. 

Please email Steve Phelan at stevephelan7588@gmail.com if you would are interested in taking a role (and which role(s) you are interested in).  He will cast this first-come, first serve, but with preference to people who haven’t participated yet (or much), so we all get a chance to join in the fun!  Once cast, he’ll send an electronic copy of the script to each cast member. [He encourages people to play with an English accent, but it is NOT a requirement]

ZOOM readings aren’t the same as live, but they provide a great chance to experience unknown shows, practice your acting skills, and socialize with your theater buddies.  And we hope they’ll be a reminder of why we started working with Beechmont Players in the first place!

Just want to watch?  Put the date on the calendar and watch our social media accounts for the Zoom link!

The story concerns Lady Windermere, who suspects that her husband is having an affair with another woman. She confronts him, but although he denies it, he invites the other woman, Mrs Erlynne, to his wife’s birthday ball. Angered by her husband’s supposed unfaithfulness, Lady Windermere decides to leave her husband for another man. After discovering what has transpired, Mrs Erlynne follows Lady Windermere and attempts to persuade her to return to her husband and in the course of this, Mrs Erlynne is discovered in a compromising position. It is then revealed Mrs Erlynne is Lady Windermere’s mother, who abandoned her family twenty years before the time the play is set. Mrs Erlynne sacrifices herself and her reputation to save her daughter’s marriage…

The roles (descriptions and ages are given just to guide character and perspective) for LADY WINDEMERE’S FAN are:

Lord Windermere plays a major role in the play. Society sees him as the perfect man and great husband. He is the center of the conflict because there are rumors being spread about him. 

Lord Darlington is good friends with Lord and Lady Windermere. He is a charming bachelor in society. He has feelings for Lady Windermere. He goes along with the rumors to try to get Lady Windermere to leave with him.

Lord Augustus Lorton is a sweet, older man. He is in love with Mrs. Erlynne. He allows her to tell him what to do and he doesn’t mind it one bit. He just wants to have a women by his side and spend the rest of his life with someone.

Mr. Dumby is the typical Englishman of high society.

Mr. Cecil Graham is very eccentric. He is part of high society but he is not like the other men. He has a witty sense of humor.

Mr. Hopper is an Australian businessman in high society. He is in love with the Duchess of Berwick’s daughter Lady Agatha. He is an outsider in the London high society because he is Australian. Doubles with Parker, Butler 

Lady Windermere is the wife of Lord Windermere and the mother of his child. She tends to forget her duties as a mother and starts to think of leaving her husband because of the rumors going around the town. She is the daughter of Mrs. Erlynne but never actually finds out about that herself. The play takes place during her twenty-first birthday party.

The Duchess of Berwick is considered a noblewoman by high society. She is a talkative person and highly interested in scandal and drama.

Lady Agatha Carlisle is the Duchess of Berwick’s daughter, who throughout the whole play only says “Yes Mamma.” She is in love with Mr. Hopper. Doubles with Rosalie, Maid

Lady Plymdale is the typical London woman of high society. She thinks highly of herself and behaves in an acceptable manner.

Lady Stutfield is a typical representation of a woman of high society.

Lady Jedburgh is always in the background of scenes during the party talking incessantly.

Mrs. Cowper-Cowper flutters around during the play. She does what she needs to do to stay a part of high society.  

Mrs. Erlynne  A woman in her forties who left her husband years ago. The town knows her as a loose woman. They all judge her and have labeled her as a woman who sleeps with married men. The conflict in the movie is Lord Windermere is paying her off but for what purpose? The reader doesn’t find out until the very end that she is the mother of Lady Windermere. Lord Windermere pays her off so she doesn’t come out and ruin Lady Windermere’s reputation. She starts out the play as a conniving woman but towards the end redeems herself and helps out her daughter.