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A U D I T I O N S 

 The Stillwater Players Among Others
Dinner Theatre Production of

"I HATE HAMLET"

Directed by Linda Yurschak

WHEN
FEBRUARY 11th (Thursday) & 12th (Friday) 2008
7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

WHERE
THE STILLWATER PARISH CENTER THEATER
Hudson Ave. (RT's 4 & 32), Stillwater, NY
The auditions are open to all.   There is no audition fee.

CHARACTERIZATIONS
Six actors (three women and three men) will be cast.

ANDREW RALLY—lead role.  20’s to 40’s.  A well known TV star in between series.  He’s been offered the role of “Hamlet” as part of the Shakespeare In The Park Program. Translation---pretty much a pro bono roll which some believe would lift his career to a new level should he succeed or toss it in the dumpster should he fail.  Add to this dilemma add his distaste for playing any role penned by the immortal “bard”; Andrew’s virginal girlfriend is transfixed by his playing Hamlet maybe even to the point of finally being seduced (he hopes) by Andrew playing “Hamlet”; his dying agent (once a mistress of the greatest Hamlet of all—John Barrymore) who got Andrew the Shakespearean gig; his Hollywood friend Gary dangling a new multi-million dollar deal for a new series in Andrew’s face; And, the appearance of John Barrymore’s ghost when Andrew moves into JB’s former digs.  Andrew is probably the straight man in the show until he is transformed into Barrymore’s Hamlet.

DEIRDRE McDAVEY— 20’s to 30’s dependent on the casting qualities of Andrew as she is Andrew’s virginal, idyllic, extremely romantic girlfriend who’s totally smitten with the prospect of Andrew’s playing Hamlet.  Deidre needs to be bouncy and enthusiastic.  She’s totally in love with love but not ready just yet to actually commit to it. She sees herself playing Ophelia to Andrew’s Hamlet.

FELICIA DANTINE—Any age.  The real estate agent who rents John Barrymore’s former apartment to Andrew.  A great character actresses’ part.   Felicia claims to have regular contact with her deceased mother and heads up an séance that while seems to fail actually conjures up the ghost of John Barrymore.  Think this role & her séance scene can be lots of fun.  Is she for real or just a total nut case?

LILLIAN TROY—Andrew’s agent who’s pushing for him to do the part of Hamlet citing “look what it did for the career of the late great  John Barrymore”.   Lillian’s big claim to fame is that she was once a mistress (one of many, he was said to be quite a rogue) of Barrymore’s.   Barrymore died in 1942 putting Lillian at best at 84+ if we do this play in a “today” setting.  But I’m looking for a young, very young 84—hey, it worked for Estelle Getty..  Lillian is one of the very few who can see & talk to the ghost with whom she’s still in love.   She also needs to show a lot of vulnerability.   It’s alluded to that she may be dying.   Lillian is a character, but an elegant one—her speech is a bit affected, as is her movement, always with a flourish—In my mind, I see Gloria Swanson as she was in “Sunset Boulevard”.

GARY LEFKOWITZ—Any age.  He’s Andrew’s good friend.  A pushy used car salesman type always looking out mainly for number uno and how to make a lot of bucks off his good TV matinee idol pal, Andrew.  Gary blows in from Hollywood with a contract for Andrew to sign making Andrew & of course, Gary an obscene amount of money playing a nerdy school teacher by day and a ridiculous super hero at night.  The catch, it has to be now—no time to screw around playing in a not-for-profit deal like Hamlet.

JOHN BARRYMORE—This part has been precast and therefore not open for auditioning.

SELECTED SCRIPT READINGS

TO BE ANNOUNCED

Copies of Readings will be available to peruse at the audition
REHEARSAL LOGISTICS

Preferred    Tue - Wed - Fri   6:45 - 10:00
(Open to Cast Availability)
Rehearsals Start the third week of September

NOVEMBER 7 - 23 2008