THE LOVING DEMISE OF LORD BLACKWELL AND HIS WIFE - Basement Arts Non Equity Auditions
Posted October 4, 2013
THE LOVING DEMISE OF LORD BLACKWELL AND HIS WIFE - Basement Arts
AUDITION NOTICE:
The Loving Demise of Lord Blackwell and His Wife
By Milena Westarb
Directed by Ellen Sachs
Stage Management by Jean-Luc DeLadurantaye
Performances: November 7th -9th : Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7pm
and Friday at 11pm
A light-hearted, melodramatic Victorian-Era farce for the prim and proper, with hilarity, witty banter, and slapstick galore! Following the mysterious death of his uncle, Lord Blackwell, James Solomon inherits his estate and also an enormous fortune. Lady Blackwell, the young second wife-turned-widow of Lord Blackwell, will go to any length to secure the fortune for herself. However, when James’ proposal to Ann Winfield crushes the Lady’s plans to marry him and inherit the money legally, she resorts to desperate measures to get what she wants. Meanwhile, George, a servant in the Solomon household, and Miriam, Anne’s handmaid, do a little snooping of their own to expose Lady Blackwell’s treachery. Will they find more than they bargained for? Drunken shenanigans ensue…
[This show was featured during Playfest last year, and received the Dennis McIntyre for Distinction in Undergraduate Playwriting through the Umich Hopwood Awards program.]
Characters
Anne Winfield - The simple and childlike, but surprisingly perceptive, bride-to-be of James Solomon, who loathes receiving gifts and being looked after. Her chief ambitions in life are to one day become a Mockingbird, a businessman who ignores his work, and an avid connoisseur of all things to which the terms whimsy and flimflam can be applied.
James Solomon - The charming youngest nephew of the late Lord Blackwell, the whole-heartedly devoted suitor of Ann Winfield, and the (infuriatingly) oblivious target of Lady Blackwell's schemes. Enjoys afternoon walks about the garden, good foreign wine, and being the unknowing potential victim of murder plots.
Lady Blackwell - The young innocent widow of the late Lord Blackwell, is as sickeningly sweet as a bottle of poisoned wine, wry and manipulative, selfish and eloquently, if not eerily, polite. Her crimson-stained smile is enough to send shivers down the spine of a seasoned veteran.
George - A butler in the Solomon House, perhaps one of James' closest personal friends. Bumbling, tall, and well-fed, a little dull-witted, but good natured and just downright jolly, especially with a good go of wine in him.
Miriam - The governess of Anne Winfield, whose timber-like no-nonsense directness would inspire even the most insolent of boarding school truants to straighten their collars and sit up straight. Is very particular about the state of her furnishings, harbors an intense disdain for eight-legged things, and believes whole-heartedly in the persuasive power of a good ear-boxing.
Mr. Pearson, Attorney-at-Law - A rather frazzled and stout man with a middle section inversely proportional to the dwindling amount of hair on his head. Fiddles with his spectacles a lot, stutters, and is in every way opposite to what one may imagine an efficient lawyer to be.
Genevieve - The young, doe-eyed maid of Lady Blackwell, whose only need in this world is to care for sick father back in France. Her naive delicacy makes her easy prey for the scarlet-lipped widow.
The Butler - A butler in the Winfield House, flawlessly cultured, and as starchy in demeanor as his finely-pressed suit. Frequently appears in and out of rooms (may be voiced over)
Audition Requirements
If you have a monologue from after the 1600’s that also predates the 20th century, please bring it!
If not, do not fear. There will be sides for you.
DO bring a resume/headshot.
DO bring a joke. DO walk in.
We can’t wait to meet you!
Audition Dates
Sunday, October 6th, 2013 6-10 PM North Campus, Studio 1
Monday, October 7th, 2013 6:00-9 PM (Central Campus, Residential College, room EQB804) (Basement of East Quad)
Callbacks TBD
Questions? Email
ecsachs@umich.edu
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