Auditions for “The Tell-Tale Farce”
Open auditions are happening soon for the Village Players’ production of The Tell-Tale Farce by Don Zolidis on the following dates:
- Sunday, May 21, 2023 at 7PM
- Monday, May 22, 2023 at 7PM
- Callbacks will be on Wednesday, May 24th on as needed basis by invitation only.
Roles are open to all genders, races, and ethnic diversities. Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script and are open to all experience levels. The show will be directed by Steven J. Niles, assisted by Ryan Kremp.
ALL ACTORS CAST MUST PROVIDE PROOF OF COVID VACCINATION!
As this will be a show that involves some intimacy and close contact, all actors cast must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 prior to the start of rehearsals.
AUDITION FORMS
Be sure to bring a completed Audition Form PDF to the auditions, or take a moment now to fill out our Online Audition Application »
PLEASE BRING ALL CONFLICTS BETWEEN THE TIME OF AUDITIONS AND THE OPENING OF THE SHOW.
REHEARSALS will take place on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays at 7:00PM. Cold readings from the script will be provided.
SHOW DATES are September (2023) 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23. All actors who are cast MUST be available for all show dates, as well as tech week (Sunday September 3rd through Wednesday September 6th).
SYNOPSIS
(Farce) It’s 1848, and Edgar Allan Poe is just coming off the spectacular success of “The Raven.” Unfortunately, it’s only earned him a grand total of nine dollars. So when a wealthy dowager commissions him to write her a poem for the vast sum of one hundred dollars, he leaps at the chance. Only problem: the man who shows up to write the poem isn’t Poe, he’s Poe’s mailman, and he’s on a quest to woo the dowager’s spinster niece. Playing Poe is harder than it looks, though, especially when your mustache keeps falling off, the teenage grand-daughter of the house is lusting after you, and Poe’s arch-nemesis, Rufus Griswold, just happens to be dropping by to settle old scores. A freewheeling, door-slamming farce with a touch of the macabre.
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS
- EDGAR: (M) Actually RICHARD MUFFINBRIDGE, a mailman – fake mustache.
- POE: (M) (The real one) fresh off the success of “The Raven.” A rather mild-mannered fellow. With mustache.
- RUFUS GRISWOLD: (M) A poet. Something of a bastard. Has amazing facial hair, with mustache.
- HENRY WHITFORD: (M) Nervous and naïve. No mustache.
- BRINSLEY: (M) The Butler. Mustache.
- MARY O’DONNEL: (F) The chambermaid. Irish accent.
- HELENA DOWLING: (F) The big and brash matriarch. Nearly deaf. Walks with a cane.
- SARAH DOWLING: (F) Helena’s 30ish niece. A spinster.
- ABIGAIL DOWLING: (F) Granddaughter of Helena.
All actors who are cast must be available for all show dates, as well as tech week (Sunday, September 3rd, 2023, through Wednesday, September 6th, 2023). Showtimes are 8pm Fridays and Saturdays, and 2pm on Sundays. Cast call would be 1 hour prior to showtime. Show dates are listed below.
- Friday, September 8, 2023
- Saturday, September 9, 2023
- Sunday, September 10, 2023
- Friday, September 15, 2023
- Saturday, September 16, 2023
- Sunday, September 17, 2023
- Friday, September 22, 2023
- Saturday, September 23, 2023
Please bring a list of conflicts to the audition to allow for scheduling considerations.
CREW MEMBERS & NEWBIES
Audition nights are a perfect time to come out, meet the director, and express your interest in helping out backstage, be it in the role of a stage manager, lights & sound operator, concessions, or whatever else you might like to do.
They’re also GREAT for first timers to come out and observe how things are done, maybe express interest in being a helper, or read for a part! We almost always cast at least one person who’s never been on stage before. You never know what can happen!
Questions? Please contact director Steven J. Niles at steven.niles@thevillageplayers.com.