| introductory_notes_for_our_new_girl.docx |
Introductory Notes for Our New Girl
This is a new play written by Nancy Harris, a new playwright interested in experimenting with the horror and thriller genres, particularly in a domestic setting and from the point of view of a woman.
The Scene
The play is set in a Victorian house somewhere in London. The house has been modernised and extended and the action takes place in the kitchen cum dining room. On the left as you look at the stage a flight of stairs ascends to the upper floor. These stairs begin with three steps at the bottom and the main flight is contained within strips of wood, making it and anyone who ascends or descends visible when lit. The first three steps make a convenient perching place for the young boy, Daniel. Against the wall, beyond the stairs is an American style fridge with attached freezer about the height of a man. On the same side of the stage but much further back, is the door which leads to the outside world. It has two steps up to it and coat-hooks hang further back from it. Adjacent to it is a small two rung step ladder. On the back wall we have a fitted kitchen unit with a hob on the counter and an oven at the far left of the unit. There are fitted cupboards beneath the counter and also a range of cupboards above it. Set on the counter is a teapot, a kettle, some storage canisters and a set of knives. Immediately in front of this fitted unit and centre stage is a kitchen island with a tap and fitted sink. Its counter has a slight overhang on the right hand side and it has stools around it. To the right of the fixed unit is a large flip bin and beyond this a door leads to the conservatory, which is enclosed with glass panels, and has a glass French window. Through all this glass tall trees are visible and when the lights are on, the people within the conservatory can be observed. The conservatory projects into the room, forming a nook closer to the front of the stage into which fits a dining room table and four chairs. The wall to the side of the table is decorated with an enormous modern painting. The ceiling is composed of glass panels which slope downwards over the kitchen unit and through which more trees are visible. Three pendant lights hang above the island unit and the floor is of parquet. Despite all the modern fitments in the room the overall impression is of mess. There are cardboard boxes haphazardly stacked near the stairs, near the door to the conservatory and close to the table. The table itself is covered with a jumble of papers, covering the entire surface.
The Cast
Annie, played by Jeanne Nicole Ni Ainle is slender and of average height. She has a head of short black frizzy hair, a luminous brown skin and large dark eyes with a full mouth. She first appears in a duffle coat with black trousers and a check shirt underneath. Later she sports a long knitted jacket striped in many colours over the black trousers and later a long beige cardigan covers the trousers. At other times she wears a short denim skirt and a waist length striped jumper with black tights and ankle boots. She also has a light blue hoody and dons a green anorak when leaving for the hospital.
Hazel has high cheekbones, straight shoulder length dark hair, large dark eyes and a neat nose, with a medium sized mouth. She is very pregnant, although her figure is still slight and she is of average height. She first arrives in blue denim jeans, covered by a long beige cardigan and white shirt beneath, which fail to conceal her enormous bump. Later she wears a calf length grey skirt with a cream top and a beige jacket completes the outfit. She also wears a couple of dark maternity dresses, one knee length and one made of velvet with decorative sparkly buttons down the front. This is calf length. In the final scene she sports a thigh length maternity tunic in beige over grey floppy trousers. This part is taken by Lisa Dwyer Hogg.
Richard is of medium height. He is slender but with broad shoulders. He has brown short hair and a neatly trimmed beard. He wears blue jeans with a brown T shirt under a faded, pale blue, casual, safari-style jacket. Later for the evening out Richard wears a smart dark grey suit with a white shirt and subdued tie. Mark Huberman plays Richard.
The part of Daniel is played by one of two 10-year-old boys. They both have mid brown hair, but Milo Payne has long wavy hair tied back in a ponytail and Canice Doran has very short, neatly trimmed hair. They both have slight but athletic figures and between them appear in a variety of outfits, from pale coloured pyjamas to blue jeans with a variety of striped tops and hoodies with gym shoes and also a school uniform, complete with black trousers, white shirt and black blazer.
This is a new play written by Nancy Harris, a new playwright interested in experimenting with the horror and thriller genres, particularly in a domestic setting and from the point of view of a woman.
The Scene
The play is set in a Victorian house somewhere in London. The house has been modernised and extended and the action takes place in the kitchen cum dining room. On the left as you look at the stage a flight of stairs ascends to the upper floor. These stairs begin with three steps at the bottom and the main flight is contained within strips of wood, making it and anyone who ascends or descends visible when lit. The first three steps make a convenient perching place for the young boy, Daniel. Against the wall, beyond the stairs is an American style fridge with attached freezer about the height of a man. On the same side of the stage but much further back, is the door which leads to the outside world. It has two steps up to it and coat-hooks hang further back from it. Adjacent to it is a small two rung step ladder. On the back wall we have a fitted kitchen unit with a hob on the counter and an oven at the far left of the unit. There are fitted cupboards beneath the counter and also a range of cupboards above it. Set on the counter is a teapot, a kettle, some storage canisters and a set of knives. Immediately in front of this fitted unit and centre stage is a kitchen island with a tap and fitted sink. Its counter has a slight overhang on the right hand side and it has stools around it. To the right of the fixed unit is a large flip bin and beyond this a door leads to the conservatory, which is enclosed with glass panels, and has a glass French window. Through all this glass tall trees are visible and when the lights are on, the people within the conservatory can be observed. The conservatory projects into the room, forming a nook closer to the front of the stage into which fits a dining room table and four chairs. The wall to the side of the table is decorated with an enormous modern painting. The ceiling is composed of glass panels which slope downwards over the kitchen unit and through which more trees are visible. Three pendant lights hang above the island unit and the floor is of parquet. Despite all the modern fitments in the room the overall impression is of mess. There are cardboard boxes haphazardly stacked near the stairs, near the door to the conservatory and close to the table. The table itself is covered with a jumble of papers, covering the entire surface.
The Cast
Annie, played by Jeanne Nicole Ni Ainle is slender and of average height. She has a head of short black frizzy hair, a luminous brown skin and large dark eyes with a full mouth. She first appears in a duffle coat with black trousers and a check shirt underneath. Later she sports a long knitted jacket striped in many colours over the black trousers and later a long beige cardigan covers the trousers. At other times she wears a short denim skirt and a waist length striped jumper with black tights and ankle boots. She also has a light blue hoody and dons a green anorak when leaving for the hospital.
Hazel has high cheekbones, straight shoulder length dark hair, large dark eyes and a neat nose, with a medium sized mouth. She is very pregnant, although her figure is still slight and she is of average height. She first arrives in blue denim jeans, covered by a long beige cardigan and white shirt beneath, which fail to conceal her enormous bump. Later she wears a calf length grey skirt with a cream top and a beige jacket completes the outfit. She also wears a couple of dark maternity dresses, one knee length and one made of velvet with decorative sparkly buttons down the front. This is calf length. In the final scene she sports a thigh length maternity tunic in beige over grey floppy trousers. This part is taken by Lisa Dwyer Hogg.
Richard is of medium height. He is slender but with broad shoulders. He has brown short hair and a neatly trimmed beard. He wears blue jeans with a brown T shirt under a faded, pale blue, casual, safari-style jacket. Later for the evening out Richard wears a smart dark grey suit with a white shirt and subdued tie. Mark Huberman plays Richard.
The part of Daniel is played by one of two 10-year-old boys. They both have mid brown hair, but Milo Payne has long wavy hair tied back in a ponytail and Canice Doran has very short, neatly trimmed hair. They both have slight but athletic figures and between them appear in a variety of outfits, from pale coloured pyjamas to blue jeans with a variety of striped tops and hoodies with gym shoes and also a school uniform, complete with black trousers, white shirt and black blazer.
