Audition Notice
SUNDAY JUNE 22, 2014 at the BARN, 32332 W 12 Mile Rd, Farmington Hills
Registration at 12:30pm. Auditions begin at 1:00pm.
Show dates: September 26, 27, 28, October (Dark on Oct. 3rd-Yom Kippur) 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18.
Mandatory Rehearsal Dates: Tech on September 14th and September 20th, September 22, 23, Dress Wed September 24th.
Rehearsal Schedule: One read thru for the cast the week of June 29th. The final rehearsal schedule will be planned after casting.
Director: Kristi Schwartz email:
arsenic@farmingtonplayers.org
Assistant Director: Jason Wilhoite
Co-Producers: Laurel Stroud and Marilyn Zerlak
Stage Manager and Stage Crew: Kelly Little, Bev Monty, and Jen Allen
NOTES ABOUT THE PLAY: The play is a
farcical
black comedy revolving around the Brewster family, descended from the Mayflower, but now composed of insane homicidal maniacs. The hero, Mortimer Brewster, is a drama critic who must deal with his crazy, homicidal family and local police in
Brooklyn, NY, as he debates whether to go through with his recent promise to marry the woman he loves. His family includes two spinster aunts who have taken to murdering lonely old men by poisoning them with a glass of home-made
elderberry wine laced with
arsenic,
strychnine, and just a pinch of
cyanide; a brother who believes he is
Theodore Roosevelt and digs locks for the Panama Canal in the cellar of the Brewster home (which then serve as graves for the aunts' victims); and a murderous brother who has received
plastic surgery performed by an alcoholic accomplice, Dr. Einstein, to conceal his identity and now looks like horror-film actor
Boris Karloff.
Character Descriptions
Abby Brewster: A darling lady in her sixties who poisons elderly men. Abby is the sister of Martha and an aunt to Teddy, Jonathan, and Mortimer.
The Rev. Dr. Harper: Minister and father of Elaine
Teddy Brewster: Nephew of Abby and Martha Brewster, Teddy is a man in his forties who thinks that he is Theodore Roosevelt.
Officer Brophy: A police officer
Officer Klein: A police officer
Martha Brewster: A sweet elderly woman with Victorian charm who poisons elderly men, Martha is the sister of Abby and an aunt to Teddy, Jonathan, and Mortimer.
Elaine Harper: An attractive girl in her twenties and Mortimer’s fiancee, Elaine is the daughter of the Rev. Dr. Harper. She is surprisingly wise in the ways of the world for a minister's daughter.
Mortimer Brewster: Nephew of Abby and Martha, Mortimer is a drama critic who is engaged to Elaine. He is a nice man who cares for his aunts.
Mr. Gibbs: A man who wishes to rent a room from the Brewster sisters
Jonathan Brewster: Nephew of Abby and Martha Brewster, Jonathan is a psychopath who has had plastic surgery and now looks like Boris Karloff.
Dr. Einstein: A plastic surgeon and an alcoholic who is in his fifties, Dr. Einstein has changed Jonathan's face three times.
Officer O'Hara: A police officer, O’Hara is a would-be playwright who pesters Mortimer to read his play.
Lieutenant Roony: A tough and dominating police officer
Mr. Witherspoon: The superintendent of Happy Dale Sanitarium
Audition Information and Cuts for
Arsenic and Old Lace
For Auditions:
The directors are looking for strong characters in this play. We want them to be believable in their own insanity! The following cuts will be used at auditions. Email Director To request a copy of the script: arsenic@farmingtonplayers.org
Cuts for Selected Roles:
A. Reverend Dr. Harper, Teddy, Officer Klein and Officer Brophy: pp. 9-10 (Brophy’s line to just before Martha’s entrance)
B. Reverend Dr. Harper, Teddy, Officer Klein, Officer Brophy, Abby and Martha: pp. 11-12 (“broth” to Marth’a Roosevelt line)
C. Mortimer, Abby, and Martha: pp. 21-22 (Mortimer’s line (top) to Abby’s line “Yes, dear, we know.”
D. Mortimer, Abby, and Martha: pp. 22-23 (Mortimer’s line “You know?” to Abby’s line “secrets”)
E. Mortimer and Elaine: pp. 16-17 (Elaine’s line “Well, can’t you take a hint?” to Elaine “In the choir loft”)
F. Abby, Martha, Mr. Gibbs, and Mortimer: pp. 29-31 (Gibbs “May I see the room?” to Mortimer exiting Mr. Gibbs)
G. Jonathan and Dr. Einstein: pp. 72-73 (Einstein’s “Whew!” to Jonathan’s “I’ll find them, Doctor.”
H. Jonathan, Dr. Einstein, Abby, and Martha: pp. 67-68 (Jonathan’s line “Get something…” to End of Act 2)
I. Officer O’Hara and Einstein: pp.78-79 (O’Hara to Einstein “Cops?”)
J. Lieutenant Rooney and Mortimer: p. 84 (Mortimer’s line to knock at door)
K. Mr. Witherspoon, Abby, and Martha: pp. 92-93 (Martha’s line on the bottom of p. 92-end)
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