Auditions for Blithe Spirit
Essex Community Players will be holding open auditions for its fall production, Blithe Spirit, to be presented October 15-18 and 22 – 25.
Well-to-do novelist, socialite, and widower Charles Condomine wants nothing more than to begin his new novel and enjoy a quiet, relaxed life with his new wife Ruth. After twelve years he is ready to put to rest the memory of his dear, departed Elvira. But his first wife is not ready to be put to rest. When the ghost of Elvira turns up, with apparently no intention of moving on, complications naturally (or in this case, supernaturally) ensue. Noel Coward’s farcical tale of astral bigamy is a comedy classic.
Auditions are Friday, July 17, and Saturday, July 18, at 7 pm, at the Essex Center United Methodist Church, 119 Center Road in Essex.
Please arrive on time and plan to stay for the entire session. No appointment necessary, and no need to bring prepared material-- we will be using readings from the script. Though we will want to hear your best British accent.
A perusal copy of the script will be available at Brownell Library in Essex Junction, and at Essex Free Library.
Roles:
Charles. M. 40 – 50. A witty, charmingly stuffy British novelist. He believes himself well over the untimely death of his first wife, and now he wants nothing better than to enjoy a quiet domestic existence with his second wife.
Ruth. F. 35 – 45. Charles’ second wife is smart and down-to-earth, with a tendency toward impatience with what she perceives as her novelist-husband’s flights of fancy.
Elvira. F. 25 – 35. Charles’ first wife loves life too much to let death slow her down. The titular blithe spirit, she is sensuous and carefree with a sly tendency toward impropriety. A plum role for a strong comic actress.
Madame Arcati. F. 45 – 65. A spiritualist, medium, and writer of children’s books, she is eccentric and flighty, with a tendency toward the dramatic. But she is also a professional who takes great pride in her work. Another prize role for a strong comic actress.
Dr. Bradman. M. 45 – 65. Pleasant, personable, professional.
Mrs. Bradman. F. 45 – 65. Charming, cheerful, somewhat faded.
Edith. F. Any age. A housemaid-in-training, she is timid and anxious.
Questions, please email Josh-McDonald@comcast.net .
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