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
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