GENERAL AUDITIONS
for ALL SHOWS in the 2023-2024 SEASON
including the ALLEY IN THE PARK productions.
September 30th & October 1st, 2023
Saturday from 2:00pm – 5:00pm – No Appointment Necessary
Sunday from 2:00pm – 5:00pm – APPOINTMENTS ENCOURAGED.
SIGN UP for a Sunday, October 1st AUDITION TIME
At THE JAKE HOOVER THEATRE (The Alley Theatre)
923 Jackson Street, Anderson – enter from the alley off Jackson Street
Roles available for: Elementary School Ages THROUGH Senior Adult (and everything in between), all genders, experience levels, & ethnicities.
CLICK HERE FOR A PDF VERSION OF
“Synopses & Character Descriptions”
CASTING ROLES IN:
“THE ODD COUPLE” – Playing November 9, 10, 11, 13, 2023
“A CHRISTMAS CAROL” – Playing December 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 2023
“ARSENIC & OLD LACE” – Playing January 18, 19, 20, 21, 2024
“DRIVING MISS DAISY” – Playing February 15, 16, 17, 18, 2024
“FALL RIVER” – Playing March 21, 22, 23, 24, 2024
“A COMEDY OF ERRORS” – Playing August 9, 10, 11, 2024
Actors are asked to prepare BOTH a Comic Monologue & Dramatic Monologue – those auditioning for “A CHRISTMAS CAROL” and/or “FALL RIVER” please prepare 16 measures of song that shows your tone, volume, and range.
Video Auditions are welcome, and must be received at
thealleytheatremail@gmail.com by 5:00pm October 1st.
THE ALLEY THEATRE | 2023-2024 SEASON
Show & Character Descriptions
CLICK HERE FOR A PDF VERSION OF
“Synopses & Character Descriptions”
GENERAL AUDITIONS: Saturday & Sunday, September 30 & October 1, 2023
SIGN UP for a Sunday, October 1st AUDITION TIME
THE ODD COUPLE by Neil Simon
directed by Raymond Kester
NOVEMBER 9, 10, 11, 12, 2023
Thursday, Friday, & Saturday at 7:30pm / Sunday at 3:00pm
Rehearsal Window: October 16th – November 7th
Neil Simon’s classic comedy opens as a group of “the guys” are in the midst of their weekly poker game in the apartment of divorced sportswriter, Oscar Madison. And if the mess is any indication, it’s no wonder that his wife left him. The apartment is smoke-filled, and the only thing Oscar can offer his guests is warm Coke and moldy sandwiches. The last to arrive is Felix Ungar, who has just been thrown out by his wife. Felix is depressed and seems suicidal, leading Oscar to invite Felix to be his roommate. However, as Felix takes on the domestic mantle in the apartment and proves just how difficult he is to live with, Oscar is driven to the edge of madness. Poker nights are no longer evenings of smoke, grubbiness, and blokey behavior; instead, the guys are waited on hand and foot by Felix. The final straw occurs when Felix refuses to follow through with a double-date Oscar has set up with the beautiful Pigeon sisters, who live in the same apartment block. The clean freak and the slob come to blows, and the ultimate ‘Odd Couple’ go their separate ways.
CASTING THE FOLLOWING ROLES:
OSCAR MADISON: Oscar is a carefree, good-natured, divorced sportswriter who lives by himself in a messy, smoke-filled, eight-room New York apartment. He is happily oblivious to the dirt and clutter, and he blissfully ignores overdue child-support payments which his wife telephones to remind him about weekly. He has a weekly routine with his male friends, hosting a weekly poker game with questionable refreshments. Oscar’s lifestyle comes to an abrupt halt when he takes in one of the members of the group, Felix Ungar, whose marriage has ended. Although he offers Felix plenty of tough love, it is clear he also cares for his friend and wants to look after his welfare. However, Oscar is not prepared for the domesticity that comes with living with Felix.
FELIX UNGER: Felix is an exceptionally fussy man with an OCD-like cleaning habit. He is the perfect house husband and loves to cook, tidy, and organize for others. He knows that he is difficult to live with but he cannot—or perhaps will not—make any concessions or compromises. Finally having had enough, his wife throws him out despite his suicide threat. Oscar takes pity on his friend and invites him to live with him.
ROY: Roy is Oscar’s accountant and also his friend. He is one of the regular attendees at Oscar’s weekly poker nights. He frequently berates Oscar for being poor with money and is amazed that Oscar is happy to live in the filth that he does.
SPEED: Speed is friends with Oscar Madison and Felix Ungar and attends the weekly guys poker night. He is a gruff, impatient, and sarcastic man who is quick to be riled. Speed often picks on Vinnie and Murray during the poker nights as their gentler, slower habits annoy him.
VINNY: Vinnie is friends with Oscar Madison and Felix Ungar, and is one of the guys at Oscar’s weekly poker nights. He is a mild-mannered, hen-pecked husband, constantly checking the time as his wife has told him he must be home by midnight. Vinnie likes being looked after and both he and Murray, another poker crony, appreciate Felix’s cooking.
GWENDOLYN PIGEON: Gwendolyn is English and lives in the same apartment block as Oscar Madison with her sister, Cecily. She is a widow, although she admits that she was about to divorce her husband before he died. Gwendolyn is giggly, fun, and flirtatious. Both she and her sister jump at the chance to double date with Oscar and Felix and they are patient at dealing with Felix’s awkward nature.
CECILY PIGEON: Cecily is English and lives in the same apartment block as Oscar Madison with her sister, Gwendolyn. She is divorced and reveals that she had a deeply unhappy marriage from day one. Cecily is giggly and flirtatious, cheekily referring to having an exciting, eventful lifestyle.
MURRAY: Murray is friends with Oscar and Felix, and is one of the regular attendees at Oscar’s weekly poker nights. He is a policeman with the NYPD, but he is a gentle, mild-mannered man. He is sensible and methodical, taking his time to shuffle and deal the cards (much to Speed’s annoyance). Murray is often the voice of reason and advises the other man how to deal with Felix when he shows up at the apartment in a state of suicidal depression.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL adapted by Rick Vale
from the novel by Charles Dickens
directed by Jill O’Malia
DECEMBER 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 2023
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday at 7:30pm
Saturday at 3:00pm & 7:30pm / Sunday at 3:00pm
Rehearsal Window: November 13th – December 11th
A total of six (6) performances are scheduled for this adaptation of the CHARLES DICKENS classic. Versions of this script and music played in the Seattle, Washington area for a decade before being introduced to Anderson, Indiana audiences – where it played annually at MADISON PARK CHURCH (formerly NORTH ANDERSON CHURCH) for over 25 years.
Now the original script, together with the music, is adapted for THE ALLEY THEATRE to be every other season to audience members old and new.
This “story-telling style” script has all the characters of the story played by a smaller cast of 17, all ages, each actor playing multiple roles…the setting is the study and mind of CHARLES DICKENS himself.
CASTING THE FOLLOWING ROLES:
Male Actor I – Playing the roles of: Charles Dickens, Charity Solicitor #1, Fiddler, Joe, Fred’s Guest #3, Gentleman #1
Male Actor II – Playing the singular role of Ebenezer Scrooge throughout the play
Male Actor III – Playing the roles of: Bob Cratchit, Fezziwig, Fred’s Guest #5
Male Actor IV – Playing the Ghosts of: Marley, Christmas Past, & Christmas Present
Male Actor V – Playing the roles of: Fred, Undertaker
Male Actor VI – Playing the roles of: Young Ebenezer, Fred’s Guest #6, Young Married Man
Male Actor VII – Playing the roles of : Young Marley, Gentleman #2,
Male Actor VIII/Youth – Playing the roles of: Tim Cratchit, Boy with Sleigh, Urchin #1
Male Actor IX/Youth – Playing the roles of: Boy Ebenezer, Mr. Wilkins, Peter Cratchit, Urchin #3
Female Actor X – Playing the roles of: Charity Solicitor #2, Belle, Abigail
Female Actor XI – Playing the roles of: Mrs. Cratchit, Mrs. Fezziwig, Fred’s Guest #4
Female Actor XII – Playing the roles of: Flora, Laundress, Young Married Woman, Fred’s Guest #1
Female Actor XIII – Playing the roles of: Martha Cratchit, Charwoman, Fred’s Guest #2
Female Actor XIV/Youth – Playing the roles of: Belinda Cratchit, Fan, Urchin #2
Female Actor XV/Youth – Playing the roles of: Lucy Cratchit, Urchin #4
Female Actor XVI – Playing the roles of: Maid #1, Fauna
Female Actor XVII – Playing the roles of: Maid #2
ARSENIC & OLD LACE by Joseph Kesselring
directed by Kevin Weston
JANUARY 18, 19, 20, 21, 2024
Thursday, Friday, & Saturday at 7:30pm / Sunday at 3:00pm
Rehearsal Window: December 18th – January 16th
Mortimer Brewster is living a happy life: he has a steady job at a prominent New York newspaper, he’s just become engaged, and he gets to visit his sweet spinster aunts to announce the engagement. Mortimer always knew that his family had a bit of a mad gene — his brother believes himself to be Teddy Roosevelt and his great-grandfather used to scalp Indians for pleasure — but his world is turned upside down when he realizes that his dear aunts have been poisoning lonely old men for years! When Mortimer’s maniacal brother, Jonathan. (who strangely now resembles Boris Karloff) returns on the night that the aunts were planning to bury the newest victim, Mortimer must rally to help his aunts and protect his fiancé — all while trying to keep his own sanity. as well. An uproarious farce on plays involving murder, Arsenic and Old Lace has become a favorite amongst regional theatres throughout America.
CASTING THE FOLLOWING ROLES:
ABBY BREWSTER: Abby Brewster has lived with her sister, Martha, and their nephew, Teddy, in the Brewster home in Brooklyn for years. She is an important and prominent member of the community: she knows every policeman, every preacher, she works for numerous charitable causes, and brings people homemade soup when they’re ill.
Abby behaves in every way like a loving and sweet old lady. She is very proud of her “good deeds”. While the two Brewster sisters are remarkably similar, Abby is the more dominant of the two. She is the one who is willing to stand up to her menacing nephew, Jonathan, who tries to hide his dead body with the aunt’s twelve dead men in the basement.. The actress playing Abby must bring sincerity to her role and have fantastic comic timing.
MARTHA BREWSTER: Martha, like Abby, has lived in the Brewster home in Brooklyn for years. She is an important and prominent member of the community: she knows every policeman, every preacher, she works for numerous charitable causes and brings people homemade soup when they’re ill. She acts in every way like a loving and sweet old lady.
While the two Brewster sisters are remarkably similar, Martha is a little meeker than Abby. She is genuinely scared of her menacing nephew, Jonathan. She always wears high-necked collars to hide a scar on her neck, which was caused by an acid burn. Martha must bring sincerity to her role and have fantastic comic timing.
MORTIMER BREWSTER: Mortimer is Martha and Abby’s nephew and the brother of Teddy and Jonathan. We see him at the beginning of the play as a confident, sarcastic, yet content man. He is currently a theatre critic at a New York newspaper; he used to happily cover real estate, but his job asked him to move to the “lowly” theatre position. He may not love his current position at the newspaper, but he deals with his situation with aplomb. Mortimer’s awareness of the theatre canon allows him to poke fun at the murder mystery theatrical genre even as he experiences his own version of this mystery, onstage, giving Arsenic and Old Lace hilarious moments of meta theatrically-aware farce.
While Mortimer obviously reacts with terror to his aunts’ misdeeds, he genuinely loves them and strives to protect them, while making sure that they won’t be able to hurt anyone else. His intellect is shown when he devises a plan to foil his dangerous brother, Jonathan, while ensuring that his aunts and Teddy can go to the insane asylum, Happy Dale, where they will be cared for. Mortimer carries the show, and the actor playing this role must possess charisma and fantastic comic timing.
TEDDY BREWSTER: Teddy Brewster is Mortimer’s brother and Abby and Martha’s mad nephew who lives under the happy delusion that he is President Theodore Roosevelt. He knows everything about Teddy Roosevelt, including the names of all of his cabinet members. Teddy constantly confuses visitors with those cabinet members, but is charming and authentic enough that everybody plays along with his delusions. Teddy relates everything in his life back to Roosevelt’s reality. The actor playing Teddy must have great enthusiasm, imagination, and physical endurance. Every time Teddy gets to a staircase (which happens quite often throughout the play) he screams, “CHARGE!” and runs up the staircase with great energy. He believes the stairs are San Juan Hill, and that he is charging the blockhouse.
OFFICER O’HARA: Officer O’Hara is a member of the Brooklyn police force and is on good terms with the elderly murderesses Abby and Martha Brewster (though he is not aware of their crimes). He has been a police officer for twelve years but insists that the job is only temporary. His real aspiration is to become a famous playwright. He states that his many years of police experience have allowed him to collect material worthy of a good murder mystery play. The play which he is writing oddly resembles the structure of Arsenic and Old Lace. When he learns that Abby and Martha’s nephew, Mortimer, is a drama critic, O’Hara eagerly attaches himself to Mortimer and insist that Mortimer help him with the writing of his play. O’Hara becomes a bit of a headache for Mortimer; he refuses to leave the house, no matter what excuses Mortimer invents.
O’Hara proves to be a very inept cop, as his obliviousness almost puts Mortimer in mortal peril.
JONATHAN BREWSTER: Jonathan is Abby and Martha’s nephew and Mortimer and Teddy’s brother. He is the black sheep of the family, and no one brings him up in conversation. Jonathan is a truly twisted individual who used to inflict torture on Mortimer when they were children. In short, he is a sociopath.
Jonathan left the house when he was young, and has been traveling abroad, committing random murders and crimes across the globe. Along the way, he met Dr. Einstein, a capable surgeon who acts as his partner in crime. Dr. Einstein has changed Jonathan’s face three times so that Jonathan could evade capture, but his newest face is a dead ringer for horror star Boris Karloff. Jonathan is extremely sensitive to this fact; he flies into a rage whenever someone states the resemblance.
Jonathan is jealous of his brother Mortimer, possibly due to Mortimer and Teddy getting more attention when they were little.
EINSTEIN: Dr. Einstein is Jonathan’s accomplice to his multiple crimes around the world. While Jonathan (Dr. Einstein calls him Johnny) is the “brawn” of the operation, Dr. Einstein is definitely the “brain”. He is a talented surgeon who can change people’s faces. He has personally changed Jonathan’s face three times; the last job, unfortunately, made Jonathan look like Boris Karloff. Dr. Einstein is very afraid of Jonathan because he knows the evil of which he is capable. Dr. Einstein is, by no means, a victim, but he does not take the twisted pleasure out of torture that Jonathan does. He is not particularly loyal to Jonathan, and ultimately, flees to avoid being captured along with him.
ELAINE HARPER: Elaine is Mortimer’s girlfriend, who becomes engaged to him at the beginning of the play. She is the daughter of Reverend Harper, who dislikes Mortimer because he regularly frequents the sinful theatre scene in New York (a necessity, as Mortimer works as a theatre critic). Despite her conservative upbringing, Elaine is an independent woman who speaks her mind. Unlike her father, she loves the theatre, and enjoys going to new plays and musicals with Mortimer. Elaine is Mortimer’s equal in every way: she is intelligent, loyal, and ready with a comeback to every zinger Mortimer throws her way. Even though Elaine is exasperated by Mortimer’s behavior, she stands by his side, and refuses to leave him. She is deeply in love with Mortimer, and is extremely loyal, throughout.
REV. HARPER: Reverend Harper is Elaine’s father and the Reverend of the Parish that Martha and Abby Brewster attend. The Aunts (Martha and Abby) love Dr. Harper’s sermons, and he, in turn, dotes on them. His feelings for Mortimer, their nephew, are a bit more complicated. While he likes Mortimer, and believes him to be a fine gentleman, he is worried about Mortimer’s connections with the theatre — and thus his eligibility to be affianced to Dr. Harper’s beloved daughter, Elaine. Dr. Harper believes that the theatre can make people think sinful thoughts, and he generally looks down on people who attend plays, regularly. Conservative and old-fashioned, the Reverend is very protective of those he loves — especially of Elaine, his daughter.
WITHERSPOON: Mr. Witherspoon is the head of Happy Dale, an insane asylum where Martha and Abby Brewster intend to send their very mad nephew, Teddy, after they pass away. Mr. Witherspoon is mostly professional and aloof, but he seems to care about the well-being of his patients at Happy Dale. We learn that he has no family, a fact that interests the Aunts greatly.
LT ROONEY: Lieutenant Rooney is the head of the Brooklyn police force and appears at the end of the play. He seems to be constantly picking up the messes made by his less-than-stellar officers, and is strained, as a result.
OFFICER BROPHY: Loyal and caring Officer Brophy is a member of the police force in Brooklyn. He regularly visits elderly sisters Martha and Abby Brewster at their house, helping them prepare for their charity work. He loves the Aunts and refuses to hear anything bad said about them. He indulges in their mad nephew Teddy’s belief that he is President Roosevelt, saluting him whenever he sees him.
OFFICER KLEIN: Officer Klein is a member of the police force in Brooklyn. He regularly visits elderly sisters Martha and Abby Brewster at their house, helping them prepare for their charity work. He loves the Aunts and refuses to hear anything bad said about them. He indulges in Teddy’s belief that he is President Roosevelt, saluting him whenever he sees him.
GIBBS: Mr. Gibbs is a gentleman who appears to inquire about renting Martha and Abby’s spare room. Brusque and demanding, Mr. Gibbs wants to see the room straight away, but after the Aunts insist on talking to him first he gives in and sits down — though he’s annoyed about it. He answers their questions curtly; we learn he has no family and lives in a hotel he doesn’t like. The only time we see a trace of happiness from Gibbs is when the Aunts offer him elderberry wine, something he hasn’t had since he was a boy.
DRIVING MISS DAISY by Alfred Uhry
directed by Sean Smith
FEBRUARY 15, 16, 17, 18, 2024
Thursday, Friday, & Saturday at 7:30pm / Sunday at 3:00pm
Rehearsal Window: January 22nd – February 13th
Pulitzer Prize-winning, Driving Miss Daisy, is set in Atlanta and spans twenty-five years, from 1948 to 1973. When Daisy Wertham, a stubborn, elderly Southern widow, crashes her new car into the neighbor’s garage, her son, Boolie, forces her to take on a chauffeur. He employs Hoke Coleburn, much to her chagrin. At first, Daisy refuses to rely on a black man to get her from one place to the next and Hoke spends two weeks sitting in the kitchen doing nothing. Gradually, however, Daisy’s prejudices are broken down and, against all odds, he becomes her best friend. Daisy teaches Hoke to read and write, while Hoke encourages Daisy to let go of her insecurities. Alfred Uhro’s delicate drama explores the experience of aging while the world around you moves forwards at great pace.
CASTING THE FOLLOWING ROLES:
HOKE COLEBURN / MATURE MALE OF COLOR: Hoke ages throughout the play over the course of 25 years. He must therefore play ages 60 to 85. Initially, Hoke is down on his luck and has been unemployed for several months. However, he does not let it get him down and keeps up his smart appearance. He has previously worked as a driver and deliveryman and enjoys working for Jewish families as he finds them fair. He is therefore pleased to be employed by Boolie Werthan to chauffeur his elderly mother, Daisy. Hoke is extremely patient with Daisy, hanging around her kitchen for two weeks before she acknowledges him. He is also tolerant of her obvious prejudices, particularly when it comes to race. However, Hoke is not afraid to speak his mind and this is highlighted more as their friendship evolves. He is always respectful, yet determined to stand up for what is right.
Hoke is illiterate and has managed most of his adult life without being able to read anything more complicated than his ABC. He is sheepish when Daisy discovers this but willingly accepts her offer to teach him. In turn, he encourages Daisy to lose her insecurities and become a more humane person. Hoke is quietly touched by Daisy’s increasingly kind gestures towards him but he knows better than to show it. He becomes her best friend and he is by her side when she can no longer fend for herself. Thanks to Boolie’s generosity, Hoke becomes finally secure for life.
DAISY WERTHAN: Daisy Werthan begins the play as a 72 year old, but she ages over the course of 25 years, ending the play as a fragile 97 year old. Daisy is a widow and mother to Boolie, who has taken over his late father’s printing business. She values her independence and is resentful when Boolie makes her stop driving after she crashes her car into her neighbor’s garage. She hates the idea of having a driver who will be unwanted in her home, eat her food, and increase her telephone bill. She also dislikes the idea of employing an African American as she has deep-rooted prejudices which are hard to overcome. However, despite refusing to acknowledge Hoke for the first two weeks of his employment, his mild, persuasive manner wins her over and she finally allows him to drive her around.
Daisy’s friendship with Hoke grows and evolves over the years of his employment. She loses her prejudices and even becomes a vocal supporter of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement. Hoke also helps her to navigate her insecurities about her journey from the breadline to rich widow. However, Daisy never loses her stubbornness, her bossiness, and her fierce independence. Even when she begins to lose her mobility, her brain remains agile and her wit is intact. Daisy is not one for any emotional outpourings, but she comes to regard Hoke as her best friend and he is with her towards the end of her days. Daisy must be played with a strong Atlanta accent.
BOOLIE WERTHAN: Boolie begins the play aged 40 and ages over the course of 25 years to end the play aged 65. He is Daisy’s son and lives with his wife in Atlanta. Boolie inherited his late father’s printing company and has built it up to become a big business. Over the course of the play, he emerges as one of the city’s leading business figures. He is concerned about his mother after she crashes her car into the neighbor’s garage while reversing out of her driveway. Boolie takes the decision to employ an African American chauffeur for his mother, despite her reservations. He cares deeply for his mother, although he sometimes fails to listen to her properly and neglects her feelings. However, he humors his mother’s stubbornness and realizes that Hoke, her driver, is good for her. Boolie is a good employer and continues to pay Hoke’s salary even when he can no longer drive due to this age. As the years go by, Boolie becomes more concerned about his social reputation and refuses to attend the United Jewish Appeal banquet in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. as it may offend some of his business associates.
Boolie must have a strong Atlanta accent.
WORLD PREMIERE
FALL RIVER: A LIZZY BORDEN MUSICAL
Written & Directed by Rick Vale
MARCH 21, 22, 23, 24, 2024
Thursday, Friday, & Saturday at 7:30pm / Sunday at 3:00pm
Playing at ANDERSON MUSEUM OF ART
Rehearsal Window: February 26 – March 19th
with “workshop & editing” from the auditions up to the Rehearsal Window
The sensational 1892 trial of LIZZIE BORDEN, for the horrendous murders of her father and step-mother, locked the nation in its grip. This was a “first” in America: one of the first murder trials covered by female reporters, one of the first trials to allow women into the courtroom. And it was the first time a well-bred, young, American woman, was tried for such a crime…something unimaginable for the time.
The Borden murders and subsequent trial is filled with characters and drama worthy of an opera. So, although Rick Vale is known more as a comedic writer, he was drawn to this dark, true, American, tale; both as a composer and playwright.
The cast will help in finalizing this story of Victorian mores, sensational murder, and female empowerment, meeting as needed, and infrequently, from October through February, until the rehearsal window – when we will rehearse each night until the performances.
A female “Greek chorus” of journalists, observers, women of Fall River and friends, along with the leading roles (all female roles will sing / all male roles will be spoken only) will be accompanied by live piano and cello, on set.
Is this an opera or music theatre? Yes.
CASTING THE FOLLOWING ROLES
(roles may change or be edited during rehearsals)
All female roles sing/all male roles speak only, vocal ranges are subject to change and flexible during “workshops” and editing/rehearsals
THE LADY | MEZZO/ALTO: A “mature” woman who narrates or “presides” over the story. She is an elegant Victorian lady in a “grey-olive” dress. She is the only member of the cast who breaks the fourth wall, and has the power/freedom to move back and forth in time as needed in telling the story.
MISS LIZZIE ANDREW BORDEN | READS AS IN HER 30s | MEZZO: Daughter of murder victim, Andrew Borden. Wealthy though not ostentatious. Should “read” as 30-ish. Lizzie is the picture of a Victorian spinster: holding her feelings in check, to the point of being thought, “odd”. Should have a strong voice and the ability to go from “public uprightness” to private grief.
MISS EMMA LENORA BORDEN | READS AS IN HER 30s OR 40s | SOPRANO/MEZZO: Older sister to Lizzie, daughter of Andrew, a spinster also living in the same house as Andrew, Lizzie and Andrew. She is also the picture of Victorian attributes and understated wealth: thrifty, clever, educated and 1892 “Yankee”.
MRS. BRIDGET SULLIVAN | READS AS IN HER 20s | MEZZO: Irish maid in the Borden house. Since the prior maid was named Maggie, the Bordens (except for Abby) never bothered to call her by her real name. Bridgett will need a thick brogue and be a bit younger than Emma and Lizzie. She is intelligent but superstitious and cautious of the police.
MRS. ADELAIDE BLUFFTON CHURCHILL | SOPRANO: Next door neighbor and first on the scene
MISS ALICE MANLEY RUSSELL | SOPRANO/MEZZO: Friend and former next-door neighbor
MRS. ABBY DURFEE GRAY BORDEN | YOUNGER THAN ANDREW, BUT MATURE (may sing): Second wife of Andrew Borden, following the death of his first wife (Lizzie and Emma’s mother, Sarah Anthony Morse) when Lizzie was an infant. By all accounts Abby was loved by the community; always there to help out a friend or neighbor in sickness and celebration. She could not, however, garner the affections of Lizzie and Emma. She needs to “read” older than Lizzie and Emma, but younger than Andrew.
A FEMALE “GREEK CHORUS” (12? with/VARIOUS SINGING & SPEAKING ROLES as well)
BROKEN INTO THESE SECTIONS:
SPECTATOR WOMEN OF THE COURT – SINGING
WOMEN COURT REPORTERS – SINGING
WOMEN OF CENTRAL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH – SINGING
THE IRISH WOMEN – SINGING
THE WOMEN OF “THE HILL” – SINGING
JOHN VINNICUM MORSE | Reads as early 60s: Lizzie and Emma’s uncle, brother to their mother and Andrew Borden’s first wife, Sarah Morse. Horse-trader, questionable repute, questionable income.
The Reverend Doctor EDWIN BUCK | Reads as late 60s: “City Missionary” in Fall River at the Central Congregational Church, where Lizzie attended. He was by her side during the murder and trial, supporting her throughout. He was a widower at that point, and almost 40 years older than Lizzie.
ANDREW JACKSON BORDEN | Reads as 70s: Father of Lizzie and Emma, older – described by those who knew him as “well-admired but not well-loved”. He was, by all accounts, the love of his daughter Lizzie’s life – and she his. He was a superb and notoriously tight businessman who owned much property in Fall River, was well-known and wealthy, but not a spendthrift. It Andrew Borden were an actor, he would be a natural to play Ebenezer Scrooge.
ANDREW J. JENNINGS | Reads as early 40s : Associate counsel for the defense, family attorney and long-time BORDEN family friend – sometimes a bundle of nerves, but considered by most as “the ablest corporation lawyers in the state”.
HON. GEORGE D. ROBINSON | Reads as late 50s: Associate Counsel for the defense, previous US Congressman, and Governor of Massachusetts – very well-respected, a “fatherly” type…brilliant attorney.
HOSEA M. KNOWLTON | Reads as mid-40s : District Attorney of the Southern District of Massachusetts, for the Prosecution, a large-built and solid man, former state congressman and senator, later to be the state attorney general. A formidable gentleman.
THE HONORABLE JOSIAH C. BLAISDELL |Reads as older mature male: Justice, presiding over inquest, hearing, trial – and the production.
ASSISTANT MARSHAL MR. JOHN FLEET | Reads as in his 30s: One of the main officers involved in the investigation and trial
SEABURY WARREN BOWEN | Reads as early 50s: Across the street neighbor, friend and doctor to the Borden family
VARIOUS MALE COURT REPORTERS/POLICE OFFICERS/WITNESSES – SPEAKING ROLES
ALLEY IN THE PARK productions in GRAY’S PARK
A COMEDY OF ERRORS by William Shakespeare
directed by Kay Winter
AUGUST 9, 10, 11, 2024
Friday, Saturday, & Sunday at 7:00pm
Playing at GRAY’S PARK in ANDERSON
Rehearsal Window: July 15th – August 7th
In The Comedy of Errors, Shakespeare’s shortest play and one of his most farcical comedies, we see the problem that arises when one loses their identity. The story follows two sets of twins, separated at birth: The Antipholuses (of Syracuse and Ephesus) and their servants the Dromios (also of Syracuse and Ephesus). Antipholus of Syracuse and Dromio of Syracuse are on a journey to find their long lost brother and mother who were lost in a shipwreck that separated their family. On this particular day, they have ended up in the town of Ephesus where, unbeknownst to them, their twin brothers reside. Chaos ensues when the people of the town continue to confuse the brothers for one another, including (but not limited to) Adriana, the wife of Antipholus of Ephesus, thinking her husband must be mad when he claims to not know who she is; Angelo, a shifty goldsmith, getting an officer to arrest Antipholus of Ephesus when he refuses to pay him for a chain he’s already received; or Luciana, Adriana’s sister, claiming that her sister’s husband confessed his love for her. We see the twins try to navigate through a world that seems to have lost all its wits.
CASTING THE FOLLOWING ROLES:
ANITPHOLUS OF EPHESUS | One of the twins separated in the shipwreck. He ended up in Ephesus where he lives with his wife, her sister, and his servant Dromio (as well as other servants). Antipholus of Ephesus was in the war and saved the Duke’s life, leaving him a war hero and the Duke became his patron. Antipholus of Ephesus seems to have a good deal of money and a wonderful reputation in the town. He is married to Adriana. who seems to come from a wealthy, well-renowned family. It seems like the Duke set up their marriage. He comes off as very direct and very logical and realistic, so when things start going wrong and he starts to lose control, he easily loses his temper and starts to blame everyone around him. He is very strict and stern with both Adriana and his servant Dromio.
ANITPHOLUS OF SYRACUSE | One of the twins separated in the shipwreck. He was raised with his father, Egeon, and one of the Dromio twins in Syracuse. Antipholus of Syracuse is a wanderer. He has been searching far and wide (alongside his servant Dromio) for his long lost brother and mother. He leads a nomadic life, and seems to be a dreamer, a never seems to lose hope. Unlike his brother, Antipholus of Ephesus, when people start to confuse him for someone else, he decides to play along with the game and see what happens. He is much less about control, much more about spontaneity and adventure. He falls in love with Adriana’s sister, Luciana. He and his servant Dromio have a lot of fun together, often engaging in witty wordplay battles and jokes.
DROMIO OF EPHESUS | Dromio of Ephesus is the servant of Antipholus of Ephesus. He was lost in the shipwreck with the baby Antipholus of Ephesus and Emilia, and has been by Antipholus of Ephesus’ side ever since. He is very witty and smart, and can be sarcastic and snarky at times, especially with Adriana and Luciana. He has a close but slightly abusive relationship with his master and Adriana, often getting beaten when he does something wrong. He is married to Luce, the kitchen wench. He has a temper, like his master, and often gets angry when he is blamed for or accused of something that he didn’t do.
DROMIO OF SYRACUSE | Dromio of Syracuse is the servant of Antipholus of Syracuse. He was lost in the shipwreck with baby Antipholus of Syracuse and Egeon, and has been at Antipholus of Syracuse’s side ever since. He is as witty and smart as his twin brother, but seems to be a lot more gentle. His relationship with his master also seems more cordial, we often see him and Antipholus of Syracuse playing and laughing together. He seems to believe in the spiritual world and often attributes the confusion around them to witchcraft. He agrees to play along with his master and the people of the town and even seems to enjoy it, stating at one point that he would like to stay and play along forever.
ADRIANA | Adriana is the wife of Antipholus of Ephesus. She is devastated because she thinks that her husband is cheating on her. Her emotions are all over the map: one moment she is sad and weeping, and the next she is angry and screaming. She is very logical and has some of the most reasonable arguments in the play, however she is always speaking them to the wrong person and getting more and more confused. She clearly loves her husband very much, because she continues to try to find the answer for the way he is behaving, and even when it seems like he is cheating on her with her sister, Luciana, her assumption is that he must be mad. She is a very strong woman, but she is a woman of the times and her marriage and reputation are extremely important to her.
LUCIANA | Luciana is Adriana’s sister. She is a young woman who is unmarried and has a lot of opinions about what a marriage should be. She is very naive and seems a little afraid of the idea of being with a man, but she falls for Antipholus of Syracuse (thinking he is her sister’s husband) and we see her navigate through the pangs of love. She is very logical and stable: a great foil to her sister, who is much more on edge. She is a great mediator when everyone else around her seems to be losing control.
LUCE/NELL | Luce (Nell) is Adriana’s kitchen maid, she is also the wife of Dromio of Ephesus. When Dromio of Syracuse is in the house, she confuses him for her husband.
DUKE | The Duke of Ephesus and the patron to Antipholus of Ephesus. He seems to be a kind hearted ruler, shown when he gives Egeon an extra day to live at the top of the play, and when he sets him free at the end. Other characters often plead to him to help them with their various problems, and he always listens and tries to assist.
EGEON | The father of the Antipholus twins. He is a merchant from Syracuse, and since the shipwreck that separated him from his wife and one of his sons, he has been scouring the lands to try to find them. He seems to have given up hope, and when he is condemned to death for coming to Ephesus, he is not surprised because his life has been filled with such misfortune.
EMILIA | She is the mother of the Antipholus twins. She was separated from both her husband and her twins and became an Abbess in Ephesus. Unbeknownst to her, she has been living in the same town as Antipholus and Dromio of Ephesus, and when she sees Egeon and the sets of twins at the end of the play, she takes off her habit and reveals that she is indeed Emilia.
ANGELO | Angelo is a goldsmith in Ephesus. He has made Antipholus of Ephesus a gold chain to give to his wife. Chaos ensues when Angelo accidently gives the chain to Antipholus of Syracuse.
COURTESAN | The Courtesan dined with Antipholus when after he got locked out of his house. He promised to give her the gold chain that was meant for Adriana in return for her ring. After she meets Antipholus of Syracuse (thinking he’s Antipholus of Ephesus) and he doesn’t give her the ring, she finds Adriana and tells her that Antipholus is mad and stole her ring.
BALTHAZAR | Balthazar is a merchant that seems to be on friendly terms with Antipholus of Ephesus. When they go to Antipholus of Ephesus’ home and are locked out, Balthazar is the one that suggests that Antipholus be patient and let his wife cool down while they all go to dinner.
PINCH | Doctor Pinch is a conjurer that Adriana finds to help cure Antipholus of Ephesus’ ‘madness’. He is a schoolmaster as well as an exorcist.
MERCHANT I | Merchant (1) is a friend that Antipholus of Syracuse makes when he comes to Ephesus. Merchant 1 helps him find his way and warns him to not reveal that he is from Syracuse.
MERCHANT II |Merchant (2) is Angelo’s creditor and is going to have Angelo arrested if he doesn’t get the money he owes him, However, they run into Antipholus of Ephesus and it is revealed that he is supposed to have money to give to Angelo. When Antipholus refuses, he gets arrested in Angelo’s place.