AUDITIONS

To be held on MONDAY JUL 13th 2009 at St. Christopher’s School Hall at 7.30pm

ARSENIC AND OLD LACE

TO BE DIRECTED BY IAN BURROUGHS

PRODUCTION DATES OCTOBER 22ND 23RD 24TH OCT

REHEARSALS WILL COMMENCE TOWARDS THE END OF AUGUST

The Brewster family could at least be described as “odd” if not “eccentric”. Led by the two aunts Abby and Martha who are old-fashioned in an ironic sense. They appear to be a quite, conservative elderly couple who value the conventions of the past, attend church regularly and donate toys to the local Christian fund. Their traditional values, however, do not extend to their treatment of the elderly men who come to their home looking for lodging. While their desire to help the men to “find peace” is aligned with their Christian faith, they resort to murder to achieve their goal.

Teddy Brewster, Abby’s and Martha’s live-in nephew, has lost all contact with reality, completely immersed in the delusion that he is Teddy Roosevelt (President of America 1901 -1909), which in fact is quite useful as he covers up the aunts' murderous activities, as he buries the dead bodies in the basement, which he insists contains the lochs of the Panama Canal.

Jonathan Brewster, another nephew has been away for a while engaged in criminal activities with a touch of torture, who on visiting the family homestead is more than a little put out when he discovers that Abby & Martha’s “Body Toll” might be higher than his.

Mortimer Brewster, a third nephew and Theatre critic for a City newspaper, is possibly the sanest of the bunch, although he finds it difficult to maintain his senses when he discovers what has been going on in the house, the discovery of which puts strains on his courtship of Elaine, and his feelings towards his role in life.

MAIN ROLES
ABBY BREWSTER (45-65), loveable, Mortimer’s aunt. Doesn’t have a clue as to the wrong she’s done.

MARTHA BREWSTER (45-60) Same as Abby. The two are bookends of innocence.

MORTIMER BREWSTER (30-40) Active and Loveable.

TEDDY BREWSTER (45-60) Moustached, in a world of his own.

JONATHAN BREWSTER (35-50). Sinister-like in comical way. Tall. - Menacing, - & should remind people of Boris Karloff, if possible.

ELAINE HARPER (25-45) Mortimer’s love interest. Innocent.

DR. EINSTEIN (25-35) Jonathan’s assistant, adviser, & Plastic surgeon with German accent, possibly. Alcoholically challenged.

CAMEO ROLES
REV. DR. HARPER (45-60) Elaine’s Father and next door neighbour.

LIEUTENANT ROONEY (45-60) tough , driving , domineering Police Officer.

OFFICER BROPHY (30-60) & OFFICER KLEIN (30-60) Local community Officers already taken in by the charitable behaviour of Martha and Abby.

OFFICER O’HARA (45-60) another member of the local constabulary who has by chance written a Play that he would dearly like to discuss the plot, with a respected theatre critic.

MR. GIBBS (45-60) A lonely Presbyterian who luckily doesn’t get any elderberry wine.

MR. WITHERSPOON (55-65) The superintendent of Happy Dale Sanatorium who has no family and should possibly have stayed on the wagon a little longer.

Call Ian on 01227 760295 or use the form provided on the Contact Page, to book your audition.

Ian Burroughs