Monty Pythonʼs SPAMALOT Book & Lyrics by Eric Idle, Music by John Du Prez ARCADIANS THEATRE GROUP. Audition Brief

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1 Monty Pythonʼs SPAMALOT Book & Lyrics by Eric Idle, Music by John Du Prez ARCADIANS THEATRE GROUP Audition Brief Presented by Director Musical Director Choreographer Producers Arcadians Theatre Group Juran Jones Lisa Baraldi Troy Lester Melissa Jones & Louise Tonge Information Sessions Auditions Tuesday 14 th & Thursday 16 th 7:30pm Thursday 30 th October 7:00pm 10:30pm Saturday 1 st November 10:00am 6:00pm Rehearsals First Rehearsal Tuesday and Thursday evenings 7:00pm 10:00pm Sunday 15 th February, Sunday 22 nd February, Sunday 1 March, Sunday 8 th March A detailed rehearsal schedule will be supplied at first rehearsal. Which will include all rehearsals, tech rehearsals and dress rehearsals Thursday 6 th November 7:00pm 10:00pm Production Week 7 March till 12 March 2015 Opening Night 13 March 2015 Closing Night 28 March 2015 Performance Times Fridays 8:00pm, Saturdays 2:00pm & 8:00pm, Sunday 2:00pm Venue The Minerʼs Lamp Theatre 141 Princes Hwy Corrimal

2 SYNOPSIS Act I The Overture opens the show, before the Historian comes on stage to set the scene. His story is of a man with a great vision who gathered knights together in a Holy Quest (Historianʼs Introduction to Act I). The man is Arthur, King of the Britons, from the great land of England. After a quick correction in geography (Finland/Fisch Schlapping Dance), the show can finally begin! It is 932 A.D. in England, and King Arthur, joined by his servant Patsy, is riding through the land trying to find men to join his Round Table. Arthur is frustrated by several failed recruitment attempts, including one with an awfully resilient Black Knight, but his luck might not stay bad for long. In a near village, Sir Robin the Not- Quite-So-Brave-as-Sir-Lancelot and Sir Lancelot the Brave decide to enlist in the army, because unlike some other villagers, they are not yet dead (Monkʼs Chant/Heʼs Not Yet Dead). Meanwhile, Arthur continues to look for able-bodied men, and soon finds Dennis Galahad and his mother, both of whom are politically active peasants that doubt Arthur is really a king. However, the Lady of the Lake, who is a temperamental diva and years earlier pronounced Arthur King of the Britons, is called upon to convince the doubting Dennis (Come With Me), and her Laker Girls provide a cheer to everyoneʼs delight (Laker Girls Cheer). After things have quieted down, the Lady of the Lake and Sir Galahad share an appropriately timed heart-felt moment (The Song That Goes Like This). And so, King Arthur is finally joined by Sir Bedevere the Strangely Flatulent, Sir Lancelot the Brave, Sir Dennis Galahad the Dashingly Handsome, previously just Dennis Galahad, Sir Robin the Not-Quite-So- Brave-As-Sir-Lancelot, and the aptly named Sir Not-Appearing-In-This-Show (All For One). It is not long before they receive a quest from God himself to go in search of the Holy Grail, and they eventually make their way to the Las Vegas-like town of Camelot (Knights of the Round Table). There the Lady of the Lake encourages Arthur not to lose his way (Find Your Grail), and the Knights set once again on their quest. Now at their destination, the Knights are scared away by a gang of taunting French sentries (Run Away!). Act II After their defeat, at the castle, King Arthur is utterly disheartened, and having fled from the Frenchmen's taunting, the Knights find themselves scattered about in a dark and very expensive forest (Historianʼs Introduction to Act II). King Arthur and Patsy stumble upon the most feared group in all the land, the Knights who say Ni. Though things seem rough, Patsy convinces Arthur all is not lost (Always Look On The Bright Side of Life). Robin and his Minstrels are also making their way through the forest (Brave Sir Robin), and soon join back with King Arthur. As a payment for passing the bridge they guard, the Knights who say "Ni" demand, as their second sacrifice, not another shrubbery but a Broadway musical from King Arthur and his Knights (You Wonʼt Succeed On Broadway). Elsewhere, the Lady of the Lake wonders why she has been left out of the quest (The Divaʼs Lament (Whatever Happened To My Part)), while Prince Herbert, the son of the King of Swamp Castle, waits in his tower for his rescuer to come (Where Are You?). Thankfully, luck is on Prince Herbertʼs side, because Sir Lancelot arrives to save him from the clutches of his father who evidently hates music (His Name Is Lancelot). Unable to complete his journey, King Arthur is thoroughly upset (Iʼm All Alone), until the Lady of the Lake arrives to give him her final words of encouragement (Twice In Every Show). And he is able to go on. Before their journey is complete the Knights of the Round Table encounter a pyromaniac Enchanter called "Tim", and then must defeat the Killer Rabbit of Antioch with a new type of weapon for which they receive thorough operating instructions from Brother Maynard and the Monks. The Knights overcome these obstacles and by the end are celebrating with a Broadway wedding (Act II Finale).

3 CHARACTERS KING ARTHUR The King of England who sets out on a quest to form the Knights of the Round Table and find the Holy Grail. Great humour. Good singer. Age 30 60ish Vocal Baritone (Low G2 High F4) Dialect English - royal Dance Minimal but must be a good mover. Audition Singing: ʻIʼm All Aloneʼ, ʻKing Arthurʼs Songʼ Reading: I-5 I-6, I-16, II-32 (leading into song) LADY OF THE LAKE A Diva. Strong, beautiful, possesses mystical powers. Think Liza Minnelli on a bag full of speed. Powerful singing voice essential as she must be able to sing effortlessly in many style and vocal registers. Must have top-notch comic timing and improvisational skills. Age Vocal Alto with large range (Low E3 High B6). Must be able to belt. Dialect English / Diva Dance Minimal must be able to move well with diva movements Audition Singing: ʻWhatever happened to my partʼ, Scat in ʻRound Tableʼ, ʻFind Your Grailʼ Reading: II-35 II-37 SIR ROBIN A knight of the Round Table. Ironically called ʻSir Robin the Braveʼ, though he couldnʼt be more cowardly. Joins the Knights for the singing and dancing. ALSO PLAYS: BROTHER MAYNARD a long-winded monk. Age Vocal Tenor/Baritone (Low D3 High G4) Dialect English - posh Dance Strong Audition Singing: ʻYou wonʼt succeed on Broadwayʼ Reading: I-5 I-7, II-13 II-14 (leading into song). MAYNARD: II-41 SIR LANCELOT A Knight of the Round Table. He is fearless to a bloody fault but through a twist of fate, does discover his ʻsofter sideʼ. This actor MUST be great with character voices and accents. ALSO PLAYS: THE FRENCH TAUNTER an arrogant, condescending, over-the-top Frenchman, KNIGHT OF NI an absurd, cartoonish leader of a peculiar group of Knights, and TIM THE ENCHANTER a ghostly being with a Scottish accent. Age Vocal Tenor/Baritone (Low C3 High E4) Dialect English / French accent / High pitched voice / Scottish accent Dance Some dance ability Audition Singing: ʻAlways look on the bright side of lifeʼ, TAUNTER ʻRun Awayʼ Reading: I-9 I-11, II-18 II-19. TAUNTER: I NI: II-2 II-3. TIM: II-38

4 PATSY King Arthurʼs horse and servant. Underappreciated but always longing for King Arthurʼs approval. Good, funny, physical mover with some tap dancing. Age Vocal Tenor/Baritone (Low Bb3 High G5) Dialect English slightly cockney Dance Strong must be able to or willing to tap Audition Singing: ʻAlways look on the bright side of lifeʼ Reading: II-4, II-35 II-36 SIR GALAHAD A Knight of the Round Table. Begins as Dennis, a lower class ʻmud gathererʼ who becomes Knighted and transforms into the dashing Sir Galahad. Strong bari-tenor required. ALSO PLAYS: PRINCE HERBERTʼS FATHER a wealthy, brutish Yorkshireman at odds with his sensitive son, THE BLACK KNIGHT who is always ready to duel despite multiple injuries Age Vocal Bari-Tenor (Low Bb3 High Bb5). Very strong vocal. Dialect English, becomes very posh once knighted / Yorkshire accent. Dance Minimal must be able to move well Audition Singing: ʻSong that goes like thisʼ Reading: I-16. BLACK KNIGHT: II-18 II-9. FATHER: II-21 II-22 SIR BEDEVIRE A Knight of the Round Table. An inept scholar. No solo singing. ALSO PLAYS: DENIS GALAHADʼS MOTHER a shrill peasant woman, CONCORDE Sir Lancelotʼs horse. Age Vocal Baritone (Low D3 High G4) Dialect English Must be able to do a Terry Jones high pitched voice for Mother Dance Minimal must be able to move well Audition Singing: ʻAlways look on the bright side of lifeʼ Reading: MOTHER: I-17. CONCORDE: II-18 THE LAKER GIRLS/SHOWGIRLS The Lady of the Lakes posse. Featured throughout the show. Must be strong dancers and vocals. 6 roles available. Other smaller roles as per script. Age Vocal Dialect Dance Audition Varied Varied However strong vocal ability a must N/A Strong dance ability required. Reading: N/A Singing: ʻFind your Grailʼ Dance: 2 Showgirl

5 MALE ENSEMBLE KNIGHT 1 MAYOR A jolly red-faced man who advertises the merits of his hometown and the drunks. CARTER and MINSTREL 2 Audition Reading: N/A Singing: ʻFisch Slapping Songʼ, ʻAlways look on the bright side of lifeʼ KNIGHT 2 HISTORIAN A tweedy academic (the Narrator). GUARD 2 Audition Reading: NARRATOR: I-1 Singing: ʻAlways look on the bright side of lifeʼ KNIGHT 3 NOT DEAD FRED A sickly little fellow who, despite others beliefs, claims he is not yet dead who then becomes Sir Robins MINSTREL Audition Reading: MAN: I-9 I-12 Singing: ʻNot Yet Deadʼ, ʻBrave Sir Robinʼ KNIGHT 4 DANCING MONK and GUARD 1 Audition Reading: GUARD 1: II-21 II-22 Singing: ʻAlways look on the bright side of lifeʼ KNIGHT 5 PRINCE HERBERT The hopeful and frilly prince who love to sing and pines for his love atop a tower. Audition Reading: HERBERT: II-21 II-22 Singing: ʻHis Name is Lancelotʼ, ʻWhere Are You?ʼ KNIGHT 6 DANCING NUN and MINSTREL 3 Audition Reading: N/A Singing: ʻAlways look at the bright side of lifeʼ The above are a few of the minor roles. Other roles include FRENCH GUARDS, FRENCH PEOPLE, YMCA DANCERS etc as per script. Some male ensemble must be able to or willing to tap dance. (The production team reserve the right to alter the above Ensemble roles as per auditionees) ALL ROLES WILL BE ALLOCATED AND FINALISED AT CASTING.

6 CAN I AUDITION FOR MORE THAN ONE ROLE? AUDITIONS Yes. But please be aware that due to time constraints we may need to cut short a song or reading (once we have heard and read what is needed we will move onto the next character). Please list all roles you wish to audition for on the audition form supplied at auditions. You will only be considered for roles you have listed. HOW DO I BOOK AN AUDITION TIME? To book an audition slot, go to and click on the relevant Spamalot links and follow the instructions. If auditions do fill up, we will organise another audition session and advertise this. WHAT HAPPENS IN MY AUDITION? You will be required to read and sing the appropriate audition material supplied. Please come prepared for this and familiarise yourself with the material. You can download the cast recording from itunes and there is also plenty of youtube videos. Please see the audition as a performance so act it, sing it, fisch slap it Please arrive at least 10 mins before your slot. You will also be required to rehearse the choreography shown at the info sessions and perform this at your audition. Most importantly have fun, relax and enjoy yourself. Auditions will be attended by the Director, Musical Director, Choreographer, Producers and a member of the Arcadians committee. WHERE DO I GET THE AUDITION MATERIALS? Go to and click on the relevant Spamalot links. This will be a dropbox and each character will have an allocated folder with material. CALL BACKS If callbacks are required this will happen Sunday 2 nd November venue and time will be advised to people required. CASTING Cast will be notified and cast list will be available online either Monday 3 rd or Tuesday 4 th November. Once cast you will be required to become a financial member of the Arcadians Theatre Group.