UPCOMING AUDITION : THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD

MONDAY & TUESDAY     FEBRUARY 9th  &  10th    6:00-8:30pm
at The Warehouse         1009 S. 2nd Ave, Pocatello 

All auditioners should prepare a 30 second monologue and a 30 second piece of music.

There will be 14+ roles available for men and women, possibly aged 15-60.

The actors in this production have two parts: their actor-self as a member of the Music Hall Royale, and the part they play in the Music Hall’s production of The Mystery of Edwin Drood. In the descriptions below, the acting company member is listed first, with the Drood role second.

All characters have British accents — variations like Cockney, Scottish, Welsh, Irish, etc are fine as well.

Chairperson/Mayor Sapsea: The leader of the music hall troupe. The Chairperson carries the majority of the dialogue and must be quick with a joke and able to improvise. S/he is in charge of keeping the pace of the show moving. Unexpectedly fills in as the Mayor character in Drood when another actor fails to show up. This part can be played by either a man or a woman, and can be any age over 35ish.    Baritone/Low Alto (D#3 – F#4 – can pop octaves if needed).

James or Joyce Throttle, Stage Manager: A non-singing role (except with ensemble), male or female, who helps to keep the Chairperson on track throughout the play.

Clive Paget/John Jasper: The Royale’s male lead, a devilishly attractive cad, and knows it. In Drood, he is the baddie. Choirmaster of Cloisterham Cathedral, and uncle of Edwin Drood. In love with Rosa Bud. Madness lurks beneath smooth exterior. Strictly speaking, a suspect, but didn’t do it. 35-50ish. Bari-tenor (A2 – A4).

Alice Nutting/Edwin Drood: Prima donna and London’s leading male impersonator, charming but, as you might expect, with determination and a lot of ego. Must command the stage. As Edwin Drood, she is an attractive, rich, and popular young man who has everything. The victim. 25-45ish. Mezzo (B3 – E5).

Deirdre Peregrine/Rosa Bud: The not-so-innocent ingenue of the Music Hall Royale, Deirdre portrays

the love interest of Drood, the young, beautiful and apparently fragile Rosa Bud. She is betrothed to

Edwin Drood, the only man who isn’t in love with her. A suspect in his murder. 18-30ish. True soprano(A3 – B5), with a high B natural that can’t be avoided.

Angela Prysock/Princess Puffer: Angela has been a favorite of London audiences forever, a staple of the stage. As the mysterious Princess Puffer, Madam, opium dealer and general purveyor of vice of all kinds, she is glamorous in her ruin. A suspect. 50-ish. Serious low alto (F3 – D5) – must have a big chest voice and lots of rapport with the audience.

Janet Conover/Helena Landless: Janet is a long-standing member of the acting troupe, asked to play the mysterious Helena Landless who hails from a mysterious foreign colony not unlike India. Will need to switch between her British accent and a “geographically untraceable” approximation of an East Asian accent. Another suspect. 20s-40s. Mezzo (G3 – D5 [optional E5]), strong ensemble singer.

Victor Grinstead/Neville Landless: Victor is enjoying his premier performance with the Music Hall

Royale. His character, Neville, is Helena’s brother and suffers from the same “geographically

untraceable” approximation of an East Asian accent. Falls for Rosa Bud, falls out with Edwin, and is

therefore another suspect in the murder. Very passionate and often angry. 25-45ish. Bari-tenor (C3 –

G4), strong ensemble singer.

Cedric Moncrieffe/Reverend Crisparkle: This troupe member is a bit of an open book who plays an archetypal vicar, who is also a bit of a lurker, and was in love with Rosa’s mother. A suspect. Must be significantly older than Rosa. 40s+. Baritone (C3 – G4), strong ensemble singer.

Phillip Bax/Bazzard: Devotee of the theatre, the everlasting understudy, who finally gets his moment. May have quite a major part if the evening turns out that way. A sad sort of clown. In his role as Bazzard, he is often an audience-favorite suspect. Very capable of stealing the whole show. 25-40s. Bari-tenor (A2– Eb4 [opt G4 or Bb4]).

Nick Cricker, Sr./Durdles: “Clown Prince of the Royale” who makes the most of every line and plays the drunkard sexton in Drood. Gets to announce the murderer. 30s+. Baritone or Tenor (B2 – F4) – ensemble singer.

Nick or Nicole Cricker, Jr./Deputy: Boy or girl, any age younger than Cricker, Sr (15–25ish). As the

Deputy, lowest in the pecking order, and very funny. Any voice range – ensemble singer.

Wendy and Beatrice: Drawn from the company, these characters are contemporaries of Rosa Bud who sing a fabulous quartet with Rosa and Helena in Act I as well as participating in the rest of the company goings-on. (C4-D5)

Company Members: Takers of small parts in the Drood, but along with other non-suspects, these will be important characters throughout, taking much of the responsibility for making the audience

participation work, and working individually with sections of the audience. In addition, these characters are vital in creating the atmosphere of the touring theatre company. Lots of scope for creation of individual characters.

GEOFFREY BENNETT

 geoffreygbnntt@gmail.com 

or leave a message with our business office at 208-234-2654.