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Breakdown
Both loathed and adored, Roy Cohn remains a mystery to many. Barbara Walters was his friend until he died of AIDS in 1986. Citizens of prominence were fiercely loyal to him, and he counted among his friends celebrities like Barbara Walters and Ronald Reagan. Roy’s relationships with his controlling mother, his housekeeper, his lover, Barbara Walters, Julius Rosenberg, and his own inner child are explored.
Roy personifies sickness in the broadest sense – both timeless and universal. We identify with Roy’s hunger for love. He connects with our deepest longings and fears as he holds his dying mother. We see the infamous attorney as he was and might have been.
On his deathbed, Roy is faced with the ultimate question: has he led a good and honorable life or a life filled with mistakes and lies? What must he do in order to die in peace? All the people in his life resurface: his friends and his enemies, to enforce his self-realization.
SEEKING:
ROY COHN
50s, Caucasian male. One actor to portray the iconic, gritty, ruthless, power hungry attorney, plays Roy from ages 6-59. New York accent, very variable, good comedic timing, good mover. Background in physical acting ideal, passable singing voice.
DORA COHN
50s-70s, Caucasian female. Roy’s mother. She is a fierce, smothering and controlling mom. Highly ambitious through her son. Good comedic timing, good mover with some dance background. Able to sing badly very well. Also as cast.
LISETTE
20s-30s, Latina. Roy’s sexy housekeeper. The relationship is one of a power see-saw with a basis of great affection. Tone runs the gamut from harsh, scolding to very tender and teasing. Dance background, good mover, able to sing, good rhythm. Comedic timing. Also plays DAUGHTER, YOUNG WOMAN, and as cast.
YOUNG ROY
18-25, Caucasian male. Innocent, wise, daring, free and fearless, great mover/dancer /actor. He embodies Roy’s potential before he took the path he took. He is there for Roy to confront himself as what he left behind and see himself before he dies. Must move well.
SERGE
20s- 40s, African American male. Roy’s lover, an actor. Fun-loving, attractive, appealing, openly gay, free, loves life, then takes a darker turn as he explores a more meaningful approach to life than Roy’s. Funny and sensitive, searching. Also plays TEACHER, various other male roles, and as cast.
JULIUS ROSENBERG
35, Caucasian/obviously Semitic male. Referred to as “Jew.” Executed with his wife, Ethel, for allegedly selling atomic secrets to the Soviet Union. Appears in Roy’s mind, so is less the historic Julius but Roy’s fantasy of him, at once haunting and alluring as an attractive man. Jew taunts Roy by withholding knowledge of the afterlife, enjoys seeing him tortured for once. He also plays Roy’s attraction to him, again withholding himself. It’s a small revenge, but he’ll take it. Good comedic timing, good mover/dancer. Also plays various male parts: Business man, Walter Winchell, Voice of Judge Cohn, Beggar #1, Dad, and as cast.
RONALD REAGAN
50s-70s, Caucasian male. Referred to as “Ronnie.” Less the historic Reagan but how he appears to Roy, and his function for Roy is that of the admirable Teflon president. No accusation ever stuck, unlike for Roy Cohn. Unflappable, unshakeable, has the easy confidence coupled with an unthinking aggressive heterosexuality Roy would like to have. Roy tries to emulate him, but fails. Comedic timing. Actor should look somewhat like Reagan, good mover/dancer with a feel for rhythm and timing. Also plays various male parts: a voice, Old Man, Beggar, #2, Beggar #3, Judge, Voice of Rabbi, and as cast.
BARBARA WALTERS
20s-80. Female. Referred to as “Bar.” Less the historic Barbara Walters but how she appears in his memory of her, his imagination. She has the typical lisp and accent. TV personality whose mask slips occasionally. Comedic timing, good mover/dancer, was Roy’s girlfriend/fiancé but now wants him to state openly that he is in fact gay. Over time she owns her own responsibility for sticking with Roy despite his unsavory actions. Also as cast.
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