Auditions for The Holly and the Ivy January 23,24 2023
Date/Time
Date(s) - 01/23/2023 - 01/24/2023
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Location
The Varsity
Categories
The Varsity will be producing “The Holly and the Ivy” by Wynyard Browne, and
auditions are scheduled for Jan. 23 and 24, 2023 at 6 p.m.
Kevin Purcell is the director.
The Varsity is in downtown Carbondale at 418 S. Illinois Ave. For more info, email
varsitycenter@gmail.com. “The Holly and the Ivy” is the heart-warming Christmas tale set in post-war Britain the classic
play by Wynyard Browne. Reverend Martin Gregory is a recently widowed minister torn
between his roles of clergymale and father. His zeal for attending to his parishioners leads him
to neglect the needs of his own family, until emotions boil over one Christmas. “The Holly and
the Ivy” is a charming and moving seasonal favorite, peaking with the family’s unusual funny
and moving Christmas day celebration.
This lyrical holiday play involving faith and family rings true even seventy odd years later, surprisingly modern and relevant for a play from the 1940s.
Purcell is looking for actors to fill the following roles:
Jenny: Elder daughter who is in love with David, but afraid to tell her family. She is caretaker of
her elder Father, a Parson; female 30-45
Margaret: Jenny’s sister, who lives in London in a posh flat she has no time to occupy. She has
many secrets she keeps from her family; female 30-40
Mick: Younger brother, who is in military service and at home on leave. Wayward and resistant
to growing up; male 20 to 30
Parson Martin Gregory: A vicar who has spent his lifetime in a small country parish. Growing old
and not wanting to retire. Disconnected from his children; male 50-65
Richard Gregory: Martin’s cousin. A man businessman who considered becoming a vicar and
changed his mind; male 35-55
Bridget Gregory: Martin’s sister, harsh-tempered, overbearing. She is very emotional but does
not want to “be in the way….” Wonderful comic and poignant role; female 55-75
David Paterson: Jenny’s fiancé. A Scottish engineer who lives nearby. He wants to marry Jenny
but might not be able to wait as his job is sending him to South America for five years; male 35-
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