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Breakdown - UPDATED
SEEKING:
HUSBAND/GEORGE H. JONES (50s) George H. Jones is the owner of George H. Jones Company. He employs the Adding Clerk, Filing Clerk, Stenographer, Telephone Girl and Helen Jones. He is a slovenly man, but he is harmless. His hands are large and flabby; they disgust Helen. George is more dedicated to work than anything else and it shows because his business is successful. Helen becomes Mrs. Jones for the sake of monetary stability. She feels no love for George and, in fact, is repulsed by everything about the man. George is patient and, in a way, loving towards his new bride. . Soon after their marriage, Helen gives birth to their firstborn. George is excited to be a father and support his family. He is a good provider, but Helen constantly feels trapped by her husband, child, mother and life. Eventually, Helen murders George to free herself from her constraints. Ironically, she evens see murder as a better option than divorce for George because Helen does not want to hurt him by ending their marriage. This belief is both sad and insane. Helen believes divorce would do more damage to George than ending his life
HELEN'S MOTHER (60's) acts as guidebook for the society that Helen wishes to escape. Helen's mother constantly reminds her daughter that it is more important to get married before she is too old and that it is most important to marry a man that can provide financial stability. The old woman explains that love will never pay the bills, clothe you, or put food on the table. She tells Helen that love is not real. Life is real, things like clothes, food, a bed to sleep in, etc., and that the rest is in your head. She pressures Helen to forget about things like love, and marry George because he has money, is a decent man, and can care for both Helen and her mother. Helen's mother is the voice that is the opposition to Helen's feelings. Helen's mother is convincing and powerful. It could be reasoned that Helen's mother's pressure is the catalyst that forces Helen into marriage, motherhood, and, eventually, murder.
WOMAN #1 (20’s) – to play TELEPHONE GIRL/COURT REPORTER/SPECTATOR/JURY
TELEPHONE GIRL-- an unnamed, cheap, amorous female character who, in the first episode, helps emphasize and embellish the noises of the office as she repeats dry, office telephone greetings. Telephone Girl reappears in episode five, where she introduces Helen Jones to Dick Roe. Helen and Telephone Girl arrive at the bar with plans to meet Roe and his friend, Harry Smith. It is clear that Telephone Girl is having an affair with Smith and, eventually, the two depart together, leaving Jones and Roe alone together in the bar. This is the catalyst for Helen and Roe's affair.
WOMAN #2 (mid-late 30s) – to play STENOGRAPHER/NURSE/SPEAKEASY WOMAN/SPECTATOR/JURY
STENOGRAPHER -- an unnamed, dry female character who, in the first episode, helps emphasize and embellish the noises of the office as she audibly recites portions of stale, business letters.
NURSE -- In episode four Helen gives birth to her firstborn. The nurse is in her room trying to help the new mother become accustomed to her child. Helen refuses her baby, gags when her husband enters the room, and is wholly repulsed by the world. The nurse is confused by Helen's actions and calls on the doctor for assistance.
WOMAN #3 (mid 30s-mid 40s) – to play NEIGHBOR WOMAN/SPEAKEASY GIRL/MATRON/SPECTATOR/JURY
Likeable, versatile, every-woman who can play multiple characters
MAN #1 (mid 30s- early 40s) – to play ADDING CLERK/PROSECUTING ATTORNEY/BARBER
ADDING CLERK-- an unnamed male character who, in the first episode, helps emphasize and embellish the noises of the office with his audible number counting and the sound of his adding machine.
LAWYER FOR THE PROSECUTION—In episode eight, Helen is in the courtroom on trial for the murder of her husband, George H. Jones. The Lawyer for the Prosecution is prosecuting her on the charges of murder in the first degree.
MAN #2 (20s) – to play FILING CLERK/BOY IN BAR/FIRST CLERK/FIRST REPORTER
FILING CLERK— an unnamed, younger male character who, in the first episode, helps emphasize and embellish the noises of the office with his audible enunciation of letters as he files.
FIRST REPORTER-- In episode eight, Helen is in the courtroom on trial for the murder of her husband, George H. Jones. The First Reporter is one of the many members of the press in the crowded courtroom. As he takes notes, First Reporter reads them aloud. His comments are positive regarding Helen, her behavior, movements, character and emotions. First Reporter's comments are the polar opposite of Second Reporter's anti-Helen commentary, exemplifying the subjectivity of the media.
MAN #3 (late 20s – early 30s) – to play DOCTOR/JANITOR/SALESMAN/SECOND REPORTER
DOCTOR—In episode four Helen gives birth to her firstborn. The doctor comes into the room and the nurse explains that Helen does not want her baby and appears weak because she gags when her husband enters. The doctor insists that Helen breastfeed; she refuses and asks to be left alone. The doctor is confused and perturbed by her behavior.
SECOND REPORTER—In episode eight, Helen is in the courtroom on trial for the murder of her husband, George H. Jones. The Second Reporter is one of the many members of the press in the crowded courtroom. As he takes notes, Second Reporter reads them aloud. His comments are negative regarding Helen, her behavior, movements, character and emotions. Second Reporter's comments are the polar opposite of First Reporter's pro-Helen commentary, exemplifying the subjectivity of the media. then it just needs to be put into the form of an epa breakdown with dates and creative team and all that
MAN #4 (30s) – to play LAWYER FOR THE DEFENSE/BELLBOY/JAILOR
LAWYER FOR THE DEFENSE— in episode eight, Helen is in the courtroom on trial for the murder of her husband, George H. Jones. The Lawyer for the Defense is defending her against the allegations.
MAN #5 (60s) – to play JUDGE/HARRY SMITH/FIRST GUARD
JUDGE— In episode eight, Helen is in the courtroom on trial for the murder of her husband, George H. Jones. The Judge is presiding over the courtroom and her trial.
HARRY SMITH— sitting with Dick Roe in the bar during episode five. Smith is planning to introduce Roe to his mistress's friend, Helen Jones. When Helen and Telephone Girl—Smith's mistress—arrive at the bar, the four individuals introduce each other and exchange brief dialogue. Following this, Telephone Girl and Smith depart together, leaving Roe and Helen alone together.
MAN #6 (60s) – to play PRIEST/ SPEAKEASY MAN WITH BOY/THIRD CLERK/SPECTATOR/JURY
PRIEST—In the final episode, moments before Helen is taken to the electric chair, Helen converses with the Priest. Mostly, she talks at the Priest as he reads her last rites. Helen divulges many of her feelings in the final episode of the play. She is extremely emotional about her forced submission into work, marriage, sex, and motherhood. The Priest is calm, collected and regimented. He gives Helen her last rites and then her head is shaved and she is led to her death in the electric chair.
MAN #7 (late 20s) – to play SPEAKEASY MAN WITH GIRL/BAILIFF/THIRD REPORTER
Authoritative character man who can convincingly play multiple characters.
The following roles are already cast:
HELEN JONES
MAN
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