THE PLAYERS BY SAMSARA

THE PLAYERS BY SAMSARA
A SOAP OPERA PODCAST (2018 - 2019)

Jaclyn Lombardo, Axle Gunn, April Garreffa, Maree Shefford, Jaq Avery, Scott Knight, Justin Groves, and Imbi Leili Ling

The trials and tribulations of setting up a theatre company as brother and sister fight for artistic control and the children struggle to find their identities. Half sisters and brothers are pitted against each other daily.  Ruby, having grown up under the shadow of her more talented brother Michael, finally has the upper hand with financial control.  Talent versus money as the offspring challenge each other and play power games whilst the layabout husband, Edward, debauches his way through Ruby's money and reputation.  Welcome to Dramaticus Theatre Company.

BOX SET #1

1. CHAPTER 1: The Toasty Gathering - Michael and Ruby sneak a quiet moment to toast their achievements and the final production meeting begins.
2. CHAPTER 2: The Prepared Meeting - The production meeting continues and Ruby and River interrupt rehearsals.
3. CHAPTER 3: The Consoling Allocation - Edward consoles Flora after being kicked out of the launch, River shows Sienna her new dressing room, and Edward takes the first step in his plan.
4. CHAPTER 4: The Manipulated Tantrum - Edward continues to play with Ruby's emotions and River puts Flora and Edward firmly in their place.
5. CHAPTER 5: The Relieved Cajoling - Michael takes an evening off to dine with his daughters and he and Sienna try to convince Emerald to come to the launch.

BOX SET #2

• CHAPTER 6: Brick meets the intriguing new repetiteur, Kirana, and Edward starts putting his evil plan into action by relentlessly manipulating Ruby.
• CHAPTER 7:  Edward turns up for a rehearsal with Kirana but Flora is missing, and Ruby drops a bomb on Emerald and Sienna.
• CHAPTER 8:  Flora visit's Ruby's favourite couturier, Henri, to try and find a costume and Brick gets a funny feeling about Kirana and Edward.
• CHAPTER 9:  Henri continues his futile attempts to excite Flora with his collection and Michael reveals the role Edward will be playing in the premier production for Dramaticus.
• CHAPTER 10: Flora finally makes a decision about her gown and Emerald develops a plan of attack.

BOX SET # 3

• CHAPTER 11: Emerald reaches out to Henri for help with Sienna's dress and Michael interrupts a planning session between River and Ruby.
• CHAPTER 12: Micheal confronts Ruby about Flora, Henri works with Emerald on Sienna's dress, and Edward invites Kirana out for dinner.
• CHAPTER 13: Ruby tries to mend her relationship with Flora, and Sienna and Brick run into Michael at the Bistro.
• CHAPTER 14: Ruby has harsh words with River, Brick's evening is soured when he catches sight of Edward and Kirana, and Frank takes River out for a drink.
• CHAPTER 15: Ruby finds Emerald crying about her mother and Edward takes a very drunk Kirana home.

BOX SET #4

• CHAPTER 16: River and Flora face off, Kirana wakes up to find Edward in her bed, Michael finds Emerals asleep in her workshop, and the final production meeting before the launch of Dramaticus begins.
• CHAPTER 17: The production meeting continues, Flora shows Edward her new purchases, Sienna drops in for a final costume fitting, and Brick and Kirana have an awkward encounter.
• CHAPTER 18: Brick and Kirana continue to try and find common ground, River has second thoughts about Frank, Flora makes the biggest mistake of her life, and Sienna suffers a devastating blow.
• CHAPTER 19: River confronts Flora over what she has done, Michael and Brick rush to Sienna's rescue, and Ruby takes control of the situation.
• CHAPTER 20: Emerald and Henri rush to Dramaticus to help out with the crisis, Ruby and Edward have a serious conversation, and Ruby kicks off the launch of Dramaticus.

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL - A VERY DRUMMOND CHRISTMAS

BOX SET #5

• CHAPTER 21: The Friendly Constraints - We kickstart the story for 2019 at the first production meeting for the Dramaticus inaugural production meeting for Richard III. Tensions are high as Ruby tries to lead the family into calmer waters for their first big show. Later, Edward gets a Skype call from Flora who is at the Swiss finishing school La Femme Rafinee and she introduces him to her new friend Sophia.
• CHAPTER 22: The Recovered Reading - The cast of Richard III begin the round table first read through of the play and Brick and Michael debrief over a drink at the Bistro bar at the end of the day.
• CHAPTER 23: The Catchy Barrier - Brick tries to build bridges with Kirana. Two weeks later Ruby pops in after rehearsals of Richard III to check in with Michael about how things are going. As a result of that chat, Ruby invites Edward to the Bistro to tell how things are going to be. Another week passes and Ruby and Edward prepare for a Skype call with Flora.
• CHAPTER 24: The Extended Understanding - Flora begs for a favour from Ruby and Edward, Brick and Sienna relax at the Bistro after a gruelling rehearsal, and the frost begins to thaw between Sienna and Edward.
• CHAPTER 25: The Pleading Future - Ruby takes an early morning Skype call from Flora and Sophia who have hatched a plan and Frank and River talk about the future.

BOX SET #6

• CHAPTER 26: The Outrageous Compromises - Dan and River call in Emerald and Henri for a design meeting to iron out some problems. Henri finally manages to convince Edward to wear his costume, and Sophia finally arrives in Australia.
• CHAPTER 27: The Nervous Welcome - Edward suffers from opening night nerves and Henri comes to his rescue. Meanwhile, up in the Foyer Ruby introduces Sophia to Dramaticus.
• CHAPTER 28: The Snubbed Kiss - Kirana finally bumps into Ruby face to face at opening night drinks for the first time since the Christmas debacle and sparks fly. Edward and Sienna discover there is a smouldering electricity between them and King Richard III opens to thundering applause.
• CHAPTER 29: The Explored Congratulations - Henri convinces Ruby and Michael to make post show speeches before convincing Ruby to run away from the party with him. Meanwhile Emerald and Brick find themselves vying for Kirana's attention and Sophia finally meets Edward in the flesh.
• CHAPTER 30: The Consumated Operations - Edward invites Sienna to his hotel for a drink after a long and tiring day. Ruby calls the family together for a production meeting about the next show at Dramaticus and finds herself pressured to bury the hatchett with Kirana.
• CHAPTER 31: Sophia checks up on Flora and Ruby starts planning Flora's 16th birthday celebrations.

SERIES FINALE - FLORA'S SWEET 16: A VENETIAN MASQUE

Axle Gunn, Jaclyn Lombardo, Jaq Avery, Justin Groves, Maree Shefford and Scott Knight - photo by Dan A'Vard

CAST

Emerald Bannister - April Garreffa

Michael Bannister - Axle Gunn

Sienna Bannister - Jaclyn Lombardo

Edward Drummond - Scott Knight

Flora Drummond - Jaq Avery

Ruby Drummond - Maree Shefford

Brick Murello - Justin Groves

River Murello - Imbi Leili Ling

Frank Medford - Dan Brasher

Henri - Damian Vuleta

Kirana - Gabrielle Reiher (2018) Jo Boyd (2019)
Sophia di Mondo - Malaynee Hayden

Written, directed and produced by Samsara

Compositions by MBRYO