The Trip to Bountiful
by Bastrop Opera House
May. 06 (2023)
Horton Foote’s moving play tells the story of Carrie Watts, an elderly woman, who longs to escape the cramped Houston apartment where she lives with her protective son, Ludie, and her authoritarian daughter-in-law, Jessie Mae.Carrie wants to return to her beloved hometown of Bountiful, Texas, one final time before she dies. While Ludie is at work and Jessie Mae is at the drugstore, Carrie escapes to the bus station and befriends a young woman named Thelma. The new friends travel toward Bountiful together, but when Carrie arrives in nearby Harrison, Texas, she begins to learn that her beloved town isn’t the same as she remembered it.
The Trip To Bountiful
Directed by Cynthia Smith
Performances: June 30th – July 16th, 2023
Auditions: Saturday May 6, 1:00 p.m. 1 Day Only
Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script.
Mrs. Watts (60s-80s): A strong-willed, spiritual woman who suffers a quiet, emotionally oppressive existence in a cramped Houston apartment with her son and her daughter-in-law. She clings to the memory of Bountiful, the home of her youth, and longs to return there once before she dies.
Ludie (30s-50s): Mrs. Watts’ son. He feels like a failure in work, marriage, and life. He is torn between affection and loyalty to his mother and devotion to his wife.
Jessie Mae (Late 30s- early 40’s): Mrs. Watts’ daughter-in-law. Although Jessie Mae is selfish and feels trapped in her life, she is not the “villain” in the piece.
Sheriff (30+): Comes in to rescue Mrs. Watts and take her to Bountiful.
Thelma (20s-30s): A fellow traveler on the bus who provides companionship and comfort for Mrs. Watts
Bus Ticket Men and Travelers: We will need 3-4 Men and 1-2 Women to play various travelers, ticket salespeople, and other minor roles. All adult ages will be considered. Number of lines and scenes will depend upon the number of roles.
Come prepared to list all conflicts during rehearsal periods.
