AUDITION DETAILS!
Auditions will be held at 7:00pm on Sunday Dec. 7th and Monday Dec. 8th at Zion United Church of Christ: 51 W Central Ave., Delaware, OH 43015
You may attend either audition. The format will be the same both nights. There is no need to attend both.
(Audition pieces / reading selections are below)
Those auditioning will fill out audition forms listing their personal details and availability. Each person will also perform in 1-3 short audition pieces. None of these will be more than a minute or two long. They are selections from The Play That Goes Wrong and are listed at the end of this announcement. There will be paper copies available and there is no need to memorize, though you are welcome to prepare the pieces if you want to. There will be no singing or dancing (there is none in the show) and there is no need to bring prepared monologues from other shows.
Casting notices will be made by text, email, or phone on Tuesday, Dec. 9th. We will have an initial read-through on Thursday, Dec. 11th at 7pm.
NOTE: We will have Tech/Dress rehearsals each weeknight that week (March 9-12) at which ALL cast and crew must plan to be in attendance. We will have on-stage rehearsals March 2-5 and all cast and crew should plan to be in attendance every night if at all possible.
(see below for Audition Pieces)
PERFORMANCE LOCATION
Willis Theater
74 W. William St., Delaware, Ohio
GENERAL SEATING
PERFORMANCES
Friday, Mar. 13 7:00pm
Saturday, Mar 14, 2pm Matinee
Saturday Mar 14, 7:00pm
Sunday, Mar 15, 2pm Matinee
Directed by Brendan Hodge
ABOUT THE PLAY
A British community theatre, the Cornley Drama Society, has received a bequest which has allowed them to put on their most well-funded show to date, a classic English country house murder mystery, “The Murder at Haversham Manor”. Set in the 1920s and very much in the vein of classic crowd pleasers like Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap”, this should be the highlight of their season – until a series of on-stage mishaps literally brings the house down around them.
This hilarious comedy delivers a lot of situational and physical humor. A key part of the play is that each of the characters is first and foremost an actor trying to play a role on stage under circumstances which become increasingly unhinged.
The number of roles in the play is limited (six men, two women plus a few additional mostly non-speaking roles) and does not lend itself to cross-gender casting. However, this is also a play which is incredibly demanding from a production point of view. The set literally falls down in every performance, and has to do so in very precisely timed and controlled ways. So we will have a set of very active and involved crew roles on this production. Please consider agreeing to work as crew on this production if you do not fit one of the on stage speaking roles.
AUDITION PIECES
CHRIS: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Cornley Drama
Society’s presentation of The Murder at Haversham Manor. Please allow me to
introduce myself; I am Chris, the director, and I would like to personally welcome you to
what will be my directorial debut and my first production as head of the drama society.
Firstly, I would like to apologize to those of you involved in our little box office mix-up. I
do hope the six hundred and seventeen of you affected will enjoy our little murder
mystery just as much as you would have enjoyed Hamilton.
We are particularly excited to present this play because, for the first time in the society’s
history, we’ve managed to find a play that fits the number of society members perfectly.
If we’re honest a lack of members has sometimes hampered past productions, such as
last year’s Chekhov play...Two Sisters. Last Christmas’ The Lion and the Wardrobe. Or
indeed our summer musical, Cat.
SANDRA (as Florence Colleymoore): Don’t ask too much of me Inspector I feel fragile
as glass. When did we first meet? Only seven months ago but my brother has known
him since school. He introduced us at a local gala and it was love at first sight. I knew
from the very first moment I saw him that he was the man I wished to marry. When you
love someone there’s no such thing as rushing Inspector. A murder? You diabolical
beast. How can you? I won’t stand for this, Inspector. Accuse me again and you’ll be
Sorry!
CHRIS. You and Charles Haversham were close?
DENNIS. Yes, sir. Very close. He was such a kindly, charming man.
CHRIS. It's true.
DENNIS. You met him?
CHRIS. Once at the local police station. He was a consultant on a fraud case I was working on.
DENNIS. I see.
CHRIS. How long have you been working at Haversham Manor?
DENNIS. Eighty years.
CHRIS. Eighty / years?
DENNIS. (Corrects himself.) Eight years. Eight / years.
CHRIS. Eight years. And have you enjoyed your time here?
DENNIS. My time with Mr. Haversham has been nothing but a joy. I feel that since I've come here I have been seen not only as a butler but also as a friend and a confidant. If you need me I'll be in my quarters. Exits.
Chris stares at him furiously. Dennis realises his mistake and turns to go.
CHRIS. Thank you, Perkins. If you'd be so kind as to send in Florence Colleymore on your way out.