AUDITION NOTICE: OEDIPUS at ALBAN ARTS CENTER! A Classic With A Modern Appalachian Twist!

Auditions for A.E. Gill's Oedipus, an original adaptation of Sophocles' classic tragedy set in modern day Appalachia, will begin in April at the Alban Arts Center in Saint Albans, WV. Oedipus examines the clash between politics, Christianity and the will of man while exploring fate, pride and the demise of those in power.

Audition Dates: Saturday, April 7th, 2018 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM. Callbacks will occur on Sunday, April 8th, 2018 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM.

Location: The Alban Arts Center, 65 Olde Main Plaza, St. Albans, WV 25177

Performance Dates: June 22nd, 23rd, 29th, and 30th, 2018 at 8:00 PM and June 24th, and July 1st, 2018 at 2:00 PM.

Rehearsal Schedule: Monday, Thursday and Friday from April 16th through June 15th from 6:00 to 9:00 PM at The Alban Arts Center. A few rehearsals will take place at the Appalachian Artists Collective Kanawha City Studio. Tech Week will be Saturday June 16th and Sunday June 17th through Thursday June 21st from 5:30 PM to 10:30 PM. Build and move in dates are Saturday, June 16th and Sunday, June 17th from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. There will be no evening rehearsal on Saturday, June 16th. Sunday June 17th is building and tech rehearsal, with a dinner break from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM before rehearsing at 5:30 PM with all available costumes, props, set pieces and technical elements.

Contact: albanarts@gmail.com or (304) 721-8896. The Director, Leah Turley, can also be reached at (304) 546-3028.

Roles Available:

Oedipus - Overconfident rich man turned politician. Ego and temper mask his vulnerability.
Jocasta - A repressed leader, she is torn between personal security and social responsibility.
Creon - An unwilling politician beginning to gain confidence.
Lauis - Jocasta's first husband, brutish and mean.
Preacher - A person of God, a follower of Jesus.
Oracle - Blind Pentecostal prophet and hermit.
Sphinx - More mountain-lion like than its Egyptian counterpart. Formed by Chorus members. A possible hallucination, demon, messenger, etc. Whenever cued to whisper, the Sphinx should whisper incoherent pieces of its first riddle ("what goes on four legs...", etc.)
Farmer - An older man, kind, given the responsibility of killing baby Oedipus and later revealing his identity.
Chorus - Some members set aside to form the Sphinx, others act as citizens, police, etc.

Audition Requirements: Those auditioning must prepare one of the below listed monologue options based on the character which they would most like to play.

Monologue Options:

Oedipus: My friends - you've chosen me to lead at a difficult time. I know I'm an outsider - not any sort of politician, just a man far away from home. Truth is, I've been lost a long time, like this city, and I know what it's like to have nowhere left to turn. But since you've adopted me into your churches and your homes, know I am to treat you as my own family. You gave me everything dear to me heart - my lovely wife, Jocasta, our four sweet children, and most of all, your trust. Trust me, as a family man, to stand for educational reform. Trust me to stand for the jobs you've lost and deserve to have again. Above all, trust me to be your answer, as God Almighty is mine.

Jocasta: Before we start, I want to confess something. I haven't been there for you all - not the way I should've been. There's a shame on me I didn't want seen, and I've been hiding, keeping what's mine close. But from today, I'll be here for you - for all of you, best I can. It's clear to us all now that our captain is afraid. Now, I trust him with my life, and the loves of our children, but forgive me if I say this - any woman who's seen half what I've seen could be more fearless than the last ten men who've led us where we are now. Maybe it's time to pity my husband, but not to follow him. Not when there's always been a better option.

Creon: You married her, knowing she's powerful in this town? Knowing how troubled this city was? That's just begging to be put in the center of attention. Nobody in his right mind would want to lead at a time like that - but there you were. And I admit, I was glad. I'm the first to admit I was a terrible leader, wasn't I? You see? I like a comfortable chair, and a book, and privacy. Public life is all eyes and microphones. I had three panic attacks on the way here, just thinking about it. What kind of man would torture himself like that? Only a madman. So, have me investigated. If I'm guilty, lock me up - I'll lock myself up, for that matter. But I won't be condemned on a whim. Only time reveals justice, but a villain can be invented in a day.

Laius: I'm giving you a chance, Jocasta. Don't get it in your head that you're some kind of mighty. All of us here, we know where you came from - a little barefoot slip of nothing, squatting in run-down trailers, mud in your hair. You want to go back to that? I could make it happen. Or, you can keep your head down, and I'll give you an end to housework and scrubbing rich people's floors. You'll have silk dresses, and gold pins for your hair. (She recoils). You damn fool woman. I can't have it going around that I've got the spawn of Satan in my house. We'll tell people you lost the baby. Jocasta, I'll take him from you. Don't force me.

Preacher: In Jesus' name, amen. Brothers and sisters, we've been waiting for help too long. You know, as well as I do, there's a disease among us no doctor can fix. A sickness of too much misery to crawl up from, and no answer but oblivion. So I ask you, are our leaders ignorant? Are they blind to what happens in our neighborhoods every night? Then we'll show them whose eyes are open. Show them we're watching. We'll stand on these steps, night and day, and won't go home until we see change.

Oracle: Poor man. You can't threaten me. I got truth fixed in my bones. (She pauses, considering something, and speaks lower). There are places people go, sometimes - places in the woods, where a baby could get lost easy. You understand? In the trees, there's animals, and worse than animals. Things with a hunger. I'm sure a man like you, Mr. Laius, can find those roads.

Oracle: (Laughing at him). Oh, a brave temper, this man's got - yes sir, takes a big man to bellow at an old woman. Son, my words have put the fear of fire in the devil's mouth, and I've heard children curse me from their graves. What cause have you got, to raise your hate at me?

FARMER - (Someone will be available to read as Oedipus and Jocasta)
Farmer: Excuse me - I'm sorry. Am I in the right place?
Oedipus: Who are you?
Farmer: Some police officers told me I should talk to you, sir, about an investigation. I don't mean to interrupt.
Oedipus: Yes! It's you - come in, sit down - I've been looking for you. You're a hard man to find.
Farmer: Well, I keep to myself, sir, but I grew up here, a long time ago. I know most of the people around these towns, and their parents. (Jocasta, frightened, backs away silently). What was it I heard about someone being dead?
Oedipus: His name was Polybus. He was a mayor back in Corinth.
Farmer: Oh, I know him. Poor Polybus, a good man.
Oedipus: I've avoided home, all these years, because a prophet said I'd kill my own father. Well, I can never hurt him now, you see?
Farmer: Well you avoided home for a silly reason, then.
Oedipus: Why's that?
Farmer: Well everybody knows Polybus didn't have a son.
Oedipus: What are you talking about? (The farmer suddenly goes quiet. He looks from Oedipus to Jocasta and back again).
Farmer: Course, I don't know every baby that ever came and went. I've made mistakes. I think I want to go home.
Oedipus: No, you'll stay here, and you'll explain.
Jocasta: Oedipus, leave him alone, please.
Oedipus: (Increasingly furious). Explain. (Farmer stays silent. Oedipus draws a weapon and seizes him). Explain what you mean.
Farmer: Let me know. What've I done to you? I'm just an old man, just a shepherd.
Oedipus: Do you mean Polybus wasn't my father?
Farmer: He adopted a baby. Please, let me go -
Jocasta: (Anxious). Don't listen to him Oedipus. I told you not to bring him here.
Creon: Oedipus, stop it. This is insane.
Oedipus: (Brandishing weapon). You would say that, wouldn't you? The whole world's been working to keep shadows on me, but not today. My friend here will share his wisdom, if I have to rip it from his mouth.
Farmer: I wouldn't have ever come here, if I knew -
Oedipus: Where'd he get the baby he adopted? Answer me.
Farmer: From me. I gave it to him.
Jocasta: Oedipus, stop. I am begging you, stop.
Oedipus: (Twisting the Farmer's arm). Say it again. You gave him the child?
Farmer: I did. I wish I'd died the day I did.
Oedipus: You'll die now, if you don't tell me the truth.
Farmer: I won't name it.
Oedipus: Where'd you get the baby? Was it yours?
Jocasta: Oedipus, please - you're making me sick. Leave him alone. Stop asking, if you love life at all, stop -
Oedipus: Whose was it?
Farmer: No - no - I found it, that's all - I found it - (Oedipus hurts him). I got it from Laius. It was the son of Laius. He gave it to me, to have it killed. (To Jocasta, pleading). But I couldn't. I couldn't. It was wrong.
END

SPHINX - (Someone will be available to read as Jocasta)
Scene 3: A month later. A space prepared for a town meeting. Jocasta, older, makes final preparations alone. Her clothes are finer than before, and her hair is styled - she checks it now and then, when nervous. Gathering from the edges of the stage, the Chorus forms the Sphinx. It paces the room. Jocasta is casual in its presence, used to it.
Jocasta: Where have you been?
Sphinx: Maybe I've been eating your people. Haven't you seen the marks of my teeth on their arms? Awful lot of sickness back home on your side of town, isn't there? 'Isn't she the mayor's wife,' they say, 'Couldn't she help us?'
Jocasta: They're not my people. I live up here now, and I've got to look respectable, keep my head down. I'm safe these days. Safer than I've ever been, and I won't risk it. Nobody spits at the mayor's wife. Nobody would dare take a baby from my arms now.
Sphinx: Don't their babies die too?
Jocasta: Look, I know things are all wrong. The moment Laius got to be mayor, seems like all kinds of trouble got set loose - no jobs, streets full of thieves - it's not my fault.
Sphinx: And I wonder, what do you plan to do about it?
Jocasta: They'll sort out an answer soon. There can't be chaos forever.
Sphinx: Perhaps you could lead them -
Jocasta: I am leading them, in my way. I've been leading for years now. They won't put a woman in office around here.
Sphinx: Maybe my sweet friend doesn't want my help anymore? Maybe you're happy in the corner? (Jocasta pauses. The Sphinx bristles).
Jocasta: Laius has been dead a month now. That's all I asked for.
Sphinx: But is it all you wanted? Are you comfortable, sitting behind your brother's chair, letting him pretend to run things?
Jocasta: They'll elect someone new soon. Can't you leave us? Maybe enough people are dead.
Sphinx: What would you have me eat instead?
Jocasta: Prophets, maybe.
Sphinx: And leave the world to its own questions? Jocasta, don't you know that whoever undoes his own riddle undoes himself?
END

FARMER: (we will have someone available to read Oedipus & Jocasta)

FARMER: Excuse me - I'm sorry, am I in the right place?

OEDIPUS: Who are you?

FARMER: Some police officers told me I should talk to you, sir, about an investigation. I don't mean to interrupt.

OEDIPUS: Yes! It's you - come in, sit down - I've been looking for you. You're a hard man to find.

FARMER: Well, I keep to myself, sir, but I grew up here, a long time ago. I know most of the people around these towns, and their parents. (Jocasta, frightened, backs away silently) What was it I heard about someone being dead?

OEDIPUS: His name was Polybus. He was mayor back in Corinth.

FARMER: Oh, I know him. Poor Polybus, a good man.

OEDIPUS: I've avoided home, all these years, because a prophet said I'd kill my own father. Well, I can never hurt him now, you see?

FARMER: Well you avoided home for a silly reason, then.

OEDIPUS: Why's that?

FARMER: Well everybody knows Polybus didn't have a son.

OEDIPUS: What are you talking about? (The Farmer suddenly goes quiet. He looks from Oedipus to Jocasta and back again)

FARMER: Course, I don't know every baby that ever came and went. I've made mistakes. I think I want to go home.

OEDIPUS: No, you'll stay here and you'll explain.

JOCASTA: Oedipus, leave him alone, please.

OEDIPUS: (increasingly furious) Explain. (Farmer stays silent. Oedipus draws a weapon and seizes him) Explain what you mean.

FARMER: Let me go. What've I done to you? I'm just an old man, just a shepherd.

OEDIPUS: Do you mean Polybus wasn't my father?

FARMER: He adopted a baby. Please, let me go -

JOCASTA: (anxious) Don't listen to him, Oedipus. I told you not to bring him here.

CREON: Oedipus, stop it. This is insane.

OEDIPUS: (brandishing weapon) You would say that, wouldn't you? The whole world's been working to keep shadows on me, but not today. My friend here will share his wisdom, if I have to rip it from his mouth.

FARMER: I wouldn't have ever come here, if I knew -

OEDIPUS: Where'd he get the baby he adopted? Answer me.

FARMER: From me. I gave it to him.JOCASTA: Oedipus, stop. I am begging you, stop.

OEDIPUS: (Twisting the Farmer's arm) Say it again. You gave him the child?

FARMER: I did. I wish I'd died the day I did.

OEDIPUS: You'll die now, if you don't tell me the truth.

FARMER: I won't name it.

OEDIPUS: Where'd you get the baby? Was it yours?

JOCASTA: Oedipus, please - you're making me sick. Leave him alone. Stop asking, if you love life at all, stop -

OEDIPUS: Whose was it?

FARMER: No - no - I found it, that's all - I found it - (Oedipus hurts him) I got it from Laius. It was the son of Laius. He gave it to me, to have it killed. (to Jocasta, pleading) But I couldn't. I couldn't. It was wrong.
END

SPHINX: (we will have someone available to read Jocasta)

SCENE 3: A month later. A space prepared for a town meeting. Jocasta, older, makes final preparations alone. Her clothes are finer than before, and her hair is styled - she checks it nowand then, when nervous. Gathering from the edges of the stage, the Chorus forms the Sphinx. It paces the room. Jocasta is casual in its presence, used to it.

JOCASTA: Where have you been?

SPHINX: Maybe I've been eating your people. Haven't you seen the marks of my teeth on their arms? Awful lot of sickness back home on your side of town, isn't there? 'Isn't she the mayor's wife,' they say. 'Couldn't she help us?'

JOCASTA: They're not my people. I live up here now, and I've got to look respectable, keep my head down. I'm safe these days. Safer than I've ever been, and I won't risk it. Nobody spits at a mayor's wife. Nobody would dare take a baby from my arms now.

SPHINX: Don't their babies die too?

JOCASTA: Look, I know things are all wrong. The moment Laius got to be mayor, seems like all kinds of trouble got set loose - no jobs, streets full of thieves - it's not my fault.

SPHINX: And I wonder, what do you plan to do about it?

JOCASTA: They'll sort out an answer soon. There can't be chaos forever.

SPHINX: Perhaps you could lead them -

JOCASTA: I am leading them, in my way. I've been leading for years now. They won't put a woman in office around here.

SPHINX: Maybe my sweet friend doesn't want my help anymore? Maybe you're happy in thecorner?
(Jocasta pauses. The sphinx bristles.)

JOCASTA: Laius has been dead a month now. That's all I asked for.

SPHINX: But is it all you wanted? Are you comfortable, sitting behind your brother's chair, letting him pretend to run things?

JOCASTA: They'll elect someone new soon. Can't you leave us? Maybe enough people are dead.

SPHINX: What would you have me eat instead?

JOCASTA: Prophets, maybe.

SPHINX: And leave the world to its own questions? Jocasta, don't you know that whoever undoes his own riddle undoes himself?
END

FARMER: (we will have someone available to read Oedipus & Jocasta)

FARMER: Excuse me - I'm sorry, am I in the right place?

OEDIPUS: Who are you?

FARMER: Some police officers told me I should talk to you, sir, about an investigation. I don't mean to interrupt.

OEDIPUS: Yes! It's you - come in, sit down - I've been looking for you. You're a hard man to find.

FARMER: Well, I keep to myself, sir, but I grew up here, a long time ago. I know most of the people around these towns, and their parents. (Jocasta, frightened, backs away silently) What was it I heard about someone being dead?

OEDIPUS: His name was Polybus. He was mayor back in Corinth.

FARMER: Oh, I know him. Poor Polybus, a good man.

OEDIPUS: I've avoided home, all these years, because a prophet said I'd kill my own father. Well, I can never hurt him now, you see?

FARMER: Well you avoided home for a silly reason, then.

OEDIPUS: Why's that?

FARMER: Well everybody knows Polybus didn't have a son.

OEDIPUS: What are you talking about? (The Farmer suddenly goes quiet. He looks from Oedipus to Jocasta and back again)

FARMER: Course, I don't know every baby that ever came and went. I've made mistakes. I think I want to go home.

OEDIPUS: No, you'll stay here and you'll explain.

JOCASTA: Oedipus, leave him alone, please.

OEDIPUS: (increasingly furious) Explain. (Farmer stays silent. Oedipus draws a weapon and seizes him) Explain what you mean.

FARMER: Let me go. What've I done to you? I'm just an old man, just a shepherd.

OEDIPUS: Do you mean Polybus wasn't my father?

FARMER: He adopted a baby. Please, let me go -

JOCASTA: (anxious) Don't listen to him, Oedipus. I told you not to bring him here.

CREON: Oedipus, stop it. This is insane.

OEDIPUS: (brandishing weapon) You would say that, wouldn't you? The whole world's been working to keep shadows on me, but not today. My friend here will share his wisdom, if I have to rip it from his mouth.

FARMER: I wouldn't have ever come here, if I knew -

OEDIPUS: Where'd he get the baby he adopted? Answer me.

FARMER: From me. I gave it to him.JOCASTA: Oedipus, stop. I am begging you, stop.

OEDIPUS: (Twisting the Farmer's arm) Say it again. You gave him the child?

FARMER: I did. I wish I'd died the day I did.

OEDIPUS: You'll die now, if you don't tell me the truth.

FARMER: I won't name it.

OEDIPUS: Where'd you get the baby? Was it yours?

JOCASTA: Oedipus, please - you're making me sick. Leave him alone. Stop asking, if you love life at all, stop -

OEDIPUS: Whose was it?

FARMER: No - no - I found it, that's all - I found it - (Oedipus hurts him) I got it from Laius. It was the son of Laius. He gave it to me, to have it killed. (to Jocasta, pleading) But I couldn't. I couldn't. It was wrong.
END

SPHINX: (we will have someone available to read Jocasta)

SCENE 3: A month later. A space prepared for a town meeting. Jocasta, older, makes final preparations alone. Her clothes are finer than before, and her hair is styled - she checks it nowand then, when nervous. Gathering from the edges of the stage, the Chorus forms the Sphinx. It paces the room. Jocasta is casual in its presence, used to it.

JOCASTA: Where have you been?

SPHINX: Maybe I've been eating your people. Haven't you seen the marks of my teeth on their arms? Awful lot of sickness back home on your side of town, isn't there? 'Isn't she the mayor's wife,' they say. 'Couldn't she help us?'

JOCASTA: They're not my people. I live up here now, and I've got to look respectable, keep my head down. I'm safe these days. Safer than I've ever been, and I won't risk it. Nobody spits at a mayor's wife. Nobody would dare take a baby from my arms now.

SPHINX: Don't their babies die too?

JOCASTA: Look, I know things are all wrong. The moment Laius got to be mayor, seems like all kinds of trouble got set loose - no jobs, streets full of thieves - it's not my fault.

SPHINX: And I wonder, what do you plan to do about it?

JOCASTA: They'll sort out an answer soon. There can't be chaos forever.

SPHINX: Perhaps you could lead them -

JOCASTA: I am leading them, in my way. I've been leading for years now. They won't put a woman in office around here.

SPHINX: Maybe my sweet friend doesn't want my help anymore? Maybe you're happy in thecorner?
(Jocasta pauses. The sphinx bristles.)

JOCASTA: Laius has been dead a month now. That's all I asked for.

SPHINX: But is it all you wanted? Are you comfortable, sitting behind your brother's chair, letting him pretend to run things?

JOCASTA: They'll elect someone new soon. Can't you leave us? Maybe enough people are dead.

SPHINX: What would you have me eat instead?

JOCASTA: Prophets, maybe.

SPHINX: And leave the world to its own questions? Jocasta, don't you know that whoever undoes his own riddle undoes himself?
END

Website: For additional information you can visit either the Facebook Event Page or the Alban Arts website.

Richard Allen is a contributing editor for Broadway World covering theatre throughout WV and the tri-state area. He also writes freelance for various other publications. You can check out his page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/richardallenwrites and you can contact him via e-mail at richardallenwrites@gmail.com.

 

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