Audition Information

Transcription

1 Audition Information Audition Bookings: To book your audition session, You will be required for approximately 15 minutes. There is no requirement to prepare a monologue. All pieces will be taken from this play and readings will be ed to you prior to the auditions. Audition Times: Saturday 15 th December 9:30am-1:00pm Sunday 16 th December 9:30am-1:00pm Sunday 16 th December 3:00pm-6:00pm (Call backs) If you are unable to attend the stated auditions times, you may be able to negotiate a separate time or audition by video. Casting will occur immediately after call backs and successful applicants will required to be available that evening for the first promotional video shoot from 7:00pm-11:00pm. Location: Gungahlin Theatre 23 Gozzard Street, Gungahlin Director: Robert de Fries Show dates: 19 th 27 th April 2019 Rehearsal information: Rehearsal days and times will be arranged with successful auditionees. Rehearsals will be at Gungahlin College. Ages: 18+

2 About the Show The Hound of The Baskervilles is one of Sherlock Holmes most well known adventures, even though it focuses more on the experiences of Watson as he narrates the tale. In this story, the current lord of Baskerville Hall is found dead outside his home, seemingly having died of fright and this revives an old local legend of a mysterious savage hound who roams the moors. This 2015 treatment of the story by Ken Ludwig, is a fast paced comedy with two actors who will play the leads of Holmes and Watson and three other actors who play the remaining 36 roles, back & forth in rapid rotation. The comedy is both physical and demanding so timing, expressions and teamwork with the small cast will be critical. With his deerstalker cap on, the game s afoot as Sherlock Holmes, everyone s favourite detective, strives to solve his most notorious case before the curse of the Baskervilles dooms another heir!

3 The Characters Accents are the central aspect of the characters in this play. A good British accent is required for all roles and actors playing multiple parts will need to be able to sustain multiple British Isle accents as well as some European accents. Male 2 also requires a strong Texan accent as the American heir to the Baskerville fortune. Holmes and Watson have a particular physicality they are both known for but casting for this production will be flexible in look and age. Sherlock Holmes Energetic, sharp, moody, focused. He is happy to taunt pretenders with his mental superiority, doesn t concede brilliance in others willingly and can be dispassionate and cold when idle. When on a case he is animated and excitable. He likes the opera. He is very self-reproachful if he discovers he has made a mistake. Traditionally described as tall and gaunt, personality will be the key in casting this role. Dr John Watson A learned physician but forever unable to consistently keep up with Holmes mind. A dependable comrade. He is the archetypal late Victorian/Edwardian gentleman. In physical terms he has been described in many ways. We shall allow that he is competent with his handgun, thanks to army experience. We can also allow his girth or lack of it to be what the auditionee provides us. Watson narrates the play where required, and in this story has considerably more stage time than Holmes. Actor 1 [Male]: Dr Mortimer Major part - Early 30 s. A medical man who brings the case to Holmes, and befriends the new heir to Baskerville Hall Baron Scarpia A character from the opera Tosca, briefly seen being stabbed by Floria Tosca. Man with Black Beard A fellow who has been following Dr Mortimer an agent of the villain. Lucy Wilson Middle aged wife of the district messenger. She is somewhat deaf. Milker Cockney teenage boy one of the Baker St Irregulars who often run errands and other jobs for Holmes. Castilian Desk Clerk A very flamboyant lisping Spaniard. Train Conductor We all know what they re like. Trap Driver A cheerful, grizzled Devonshire local who transports Watson to Baskerville Hall. Barrymore A hunchback with a withered arm & a full black beard. The butler at Baskerville Hall. Eerie and mournful in character.

4 Stapleton Major part About 35, flaxen hair, wire rimmed glasses, straw hat. Eccentric, cheerful, loveable and attractive. He is the villain. Victor An escaped convict living on the moor. He is in fact the brother of Mrs Barrymore. Large brute of a man. Dr McCann A GP who attends the injured Watson. Broad Scottish accent. Country Farmer A very old, very Devonshire local. Sir John Falstaff The character from the opera. Mimes a jolly song as he s murdered. Actor 2 [Male] Sir Charles Baskerville The most recent lord of Baskerville Hall. Introduces the play by dying of fright. Daisy Scullery maid at 221B Baker St. She has an odd laugh. Sir Hugo Baskerville A former lord of Baskerville Hall, seen in flashback. Terrible person who drinks heavily and abducts a girl, but is killed by the hound before he can finally have his way with her. Bradley The Tobacconist Briefly seen selling some tobacco to Watson. Holmes uses it for his health. Sir Henry Baskerville Major part - The new heir to Baskerville Hall. Handsome young man, charming and innocent. Has a Texan accent, not silly but pronounced. Wilson The District Messenger, middle aged. Cheerful, grateful to Holmes for previous assistance. Inspector Lestrade Major part Crude, overconfident cockney policeman. Not a great detective, but fine with the physical stuff.

5 Actor 3 [Female] The Female role has to play several parts ranging from young to old, including the major role of Beryl. A stage age look between is preferred so the actor can be aged up and down as required for each part. Mrs Hudson Holmes landlady and housekeeper. Full of warmth and good spirit. Maiden A girl abducted by the foul Sir Hugo. Seen in flashback. Floria Tosca Enacts the stabbing scene from the opera that Holmes and Watson are watching. Cartwright Cockney 14yo boy one of the Baker St Irregulars who often run errands and other jobs for Holmes. German Maid A servant at the hotel run by the Castilian Desk Clerk. Baby Heard but not seen - crying Mrs Clayton A cab driver. Tough as old leather and just as attractive Mrs Barrymore Major part - Strong Swedish accent. Eerie and mournful in character. Miss Beryl Stapleton Major part A young lady of beauty, immediately wins the heart of Sir Henry. She is the sister/wife of the villain. Nurse Malloy Irish tends to Watson after he is attacked Winnie No dialogue. A young mother pushing a pram against the storm. Nurse MacKeeble Dr Mortimer s nurse. Broadly Scottish, much like the character from Star Trek. Laura Lyons Owner of a typing establishment. Distraught and put upon, straight out of melodrama.