Thank you for auditioning for THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD at RIVERSIDE THEATRE ROLE: BAZZARD Present in the room will be director/choreographer, producing team & casting. Initial Call please prepare: A brief comedic musical theatre that shows your personality and sense of humor. Please familiarize yourself with the sides in this packet in case you are asked to read. However, it is likely you will only read at the callback. If you are called back please prepare the full sides and songs included in this packet. INSTRUCTIONS: Be sure to bring your picture and resume, otherwise we will not have one in the room! Thanks so much! W S Casting
TMOED Chamber Version Draft as of 5/6/16 p.1 BAX "TEN MINUTES TO REAL START" PRE-SHOW SPEECH * Excuse me, excuse me, kind gentlemen and lovely ladies. My * name is Phillip Bax and I'd appreciate your brief attention, * as this is probably the longest speech I'll have this * evening. The management wishes me to advise you that our * production this evening is performed "without intermission." * I uh mention this in case any of you wish to make use of our, * uh, Facilities while you still have this Golden Opportunity. Ladies, you may wish to fix your make-up...i wish someone * would fix mine...and gents: it's that way to the Gents. * Thank you very much I'm sure. *
BAZZARD / PHILLIP BAX side for THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD The dual characters of MR. BAZZARD (Reverend Crisparkle's assistant in Cloisterham) and MR. PHILLIP BAX (the Victorian actor who portrays BAZZARD at the Music Hall Royale's presentation of "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" ) are fairly similar to each other. Type-casting, as it were. Both are gentle souls who don't expect much from life and usually get what they expect. BAZZARD and BAX both dream of their moment in the sun, and prepare for their chance, but know it is unlikely ever to come. Both belong to the same species as Mr. Mosely from DOWNTON ABBEY, Buster Keaton, "Mr. Cellophane" from CHICAGO and Jackie Gleason's "The Poor Soul." Here, in his one guaranteed speaking scene, BAX overacts his few lines, proclaiming each as if it may be his last chance to proclaim it. BAZZARD (racing on with coat in his arms) Oh, Mr. Jasper, Mr. Jasper! Look what I've discovered! JASPER Why, it's my Own Caped Coat, the one I gave Edwin that night! It's been torn to ribbons...and, blood, oh god, there's his blood on it! Where did you find this? BAZZARD Under a rock by the River Weir! JASPER I take this oath before you, Bazzard: that I shall fasten the crime of murder upon the murderer, and that I devote myself to his destruction! (JASPER EXITS.) BAZZARD (For the benefit of the third balcony) I shall remember your words, Mr. John Jasper! (MUSIC BUTTONS with BIG LIGHT SHIFT to the hard-lit "reality" of the theatre, leaving BAZZARD and at the footlights.) And I believe that's it for you this evening, Phillip. That's right, Bill. Well... I mean, it hardly seems worth your coming down from Knutsford each night, does it? You you seem to specialize in these narrow parts of late. Not by choice, Mr. Cartwright. Let's see, in "Julius Caesar" you played the part of... A senator.
EMPIRE RH draft 1/25/16 ACT Scene p.2 Ah. So at least you were in for the kill. And if memory serves, in our "Much Ado about Nothing"...? I had the title role. You know, if you think of it, it's rather odd that Charles Dickens created your character at all. Unless, of course, he had a more promising future in mind for you. That's been my solace in the role, Mr. Cartwright. And you do understudy Mr. Paget as John Jasper. In actuality, Mr. Paget claims never to have missed a performance in his entire career. Ah. Well, Phillip...we're almost done with this act and our Second Act is considerably shorter in length than the First. Is there, would you have a song ready at hand...? (Asking--begging the question of--the audience) Shall we? Yes, why not indeed? (Dream of dreams! BAX is barely able to contain his trembling emotions.) Well, as a matter of happenstance, Mr. Cartwright, I do have, in common with my role this evening, aspirations as an author and have composed a a brief song (music unfolds, revealing many joined pages hanging down to the ground) which I venture to say underscores the dilemma I share with the character of Bazzard I portray. I hesitate to -- Come, come! Its title, Mr. Bax. What? Oh, uh, "Never The Luck", Mr. Cartwright.
EMPIRE RH draft 1/25/16 ACT Scene p.3 It is suggested that, for audition purposes, the song "Never the Luck" be sung at this point. Alternatives could be: "Real, Live Girl" from LITTLE ME or "This Nearly Was Mine" from SOUTH PACIFIC..."Try to Remember" from FANTASTICKS...any waltz or ballad that begins tentatively but builds in emotion. As a second song, BAZZARD's version of OUT ON A LIMERICK from "TMOED" might be sung, with emphasis on communicating the plot within the lyric, rather than on speed. Alternatives could be a short extract of any G&S patter song, sung with the intent of being understood by the listener. In this version of the show, both PHILLIP and FLO are intentionally called upon to be the Music Hall's jack-of-all-trades, chief cook and bottle washer, who may assist actors of the same gender in their costume changes, touch up make-up, serve as "extras" in scenes, sing in all chorus moments of the show no matter what they are doing or located, hoisting ropes, moving scenery and props on and off (feigning invisibility), while also waiting on ringside tables in the audience, refilling tankards, bowing and curtseying to the patrons; they are clearly the "roadies" of the Royale, long suffering but grateful for gainful employment. And in that spirit, here is some pre-opening patter for PHILLIP BAX speaking to a row of people in the audience in his resigned, hopeless but good-hearted way. BAX AS WAITER (unlike other cast members warming up the audience, he is shy, hat in hand, a bit hopeless but gracious) Hello. My name is Phillip Bax, and I work here, at least for a little while longer. Is this your first night at the Music Hall Royale? Yes? Well I'm afraid this might be my last night here at the Music Hall Royale. No, I don't think they're happy with my work, not happy at all. They were giving out costumes a while ago and the wardrobe mistress handed me a red skirt. "Wait up," I said, "why are you giving me a red skirt?""oh my mistake," she said, "you're supposed to get a pink slip." Mr. Cartwright, he runs this place you know, he told me as a singer, my voice is not noteworthy. He said I am to dancing what Leonardo da Vinci was to dancing. But he said I must never think of giving up acting, not until I've learned how to do it. Could you all blink your eyes a few times? Very good, now try not to blink for the rest of the show or you'll miss my part completely. Oo, but I am lucky to meet such nice people as you. You're like the family I never had. When I was a boy, my parents said the whole family was leaving London forever, I said "Where are we going?" They said "Oh that would be telling!" Can I get you something to eat? I'd be careful what you order. At the Music Hall Royale the wine is fresh and the clams are vintage. They cut corners on the cheese as well, they have to because the mice have been nibbling at the edges. Would you like some ale, sir? I just served a pint to that gentleman over there, sitting with his wife. The gent raised his pint of beer, toasted his wife, drank deep and said, "I love you forever, my darling." The wife said, "Oh I think that's the beer talking." The gent said, "No I was talking to the beer." Oh you liked that, did you? Maybe there's hope for me yet. Thank you for that. You're too kind. Bless you. And now I think we're about to start...