Overview
The Story: In a provincial English town, a theatre troupe rehearses a touring production of a sex comedy, Nothing On. Unfortunately, almost nothing is going right – the cast can’t remember their lines, they mix up their blocking, misplace props, and they’ve lost sight of why they’re acting! Even the director is certain that the show will be a disaster. Somehow the cast pulls through, but by mid-tour the drama has moved backstage, as cast and crews’ personal lives start to mirror the insanity in the play, with sexual dalliances, jealousies, and chaos reigning overall. By closing night, the play is in complete shambles both onstage and off, with open “warfare” occurring among cast members and everyone simply trying to survive until the final curtain.
Background: Masterfully constructed, Noises Off is the “most dexterously realized comedy ever about putting on a comedy” (NY Times). Playwright and novelist Michael Frayn devised the concept for Noises Off while watching another one of his plays from backstage. “It was funnier from behind than in front and I thought that one day I must write a farce from behind.” With an ingenious structure that showcased the action both onstage and off, Noises Off premiered in London in 1982, garnering immediate acclaim. NY Times critic Frank Rich, who saw the premiere as well as the Broadway production in 1983, proclaimed the work “The funniest play written in my lifetime.” Join us for an evening of rollicking hilarity and virtuosic timing.
CASTING: Adults, age 18-80; all ethnicities. NOTE: Roles that call for a specific ethnicity or type will be open for consideration of actors of other ethnicities. The ages listed are approximate. Actors cast should be able to "play" these ages. In reference to the character descriptions below – The characters in this show are on the binary and written with he/him or she/her pronouns as you will see in the following descriptions. However, we seek to be as inclusive as possible and ask gender non-conforming, gender queer, transgender and non-binary actors to list on the audition form the roles they most identify with. We also list race/ethnicity when specific to the character, but are otherwise seeking all races and ethnicities.
CHARACTERS :
Dotty Otley A late-middle-aged actress. Plays Mrs. Clackett, the housekeeper for the Brents' home in England in Nothing's On. Age: 40s-60s
Lloyd Dallas He is the director of a play-within-the-play, called Nothing's On. Age: 30s-50s
Garry Lejeune A stuttering actor, easily fired up. Plays Roger, the estate agent looking to let the Brent's house in Nothing's On. Age: 20s-50s
Brooke Ashton A young inexperienced actress from London. Plays Vicki, who works for the tax authorities and is trying to woo Roger in Nothing's On. Age:18-30s
Poppy Norton-Taylor She is the Assistant Stage Manager. Age: 18-30s
Frederick Fellowes Has a serious fear of violence and blood. Plays Phillip Brent, who lives out of the country with his wife Flavia to avoid paying taxes and is on a secret visit in Nothing's On. Age: 30s-50s
Belinda Blair Cheerful and sensible, a reliable actress. Plays Flavia, Philip Brent's wife, who is dependable, though not one for household duties in Nothing's On. Age: 30s-50s
Tim Allgood He is an over-worked Stage Manager. Age: 18-30s
Selsdon Mowbray Elderly and with actorly mannerisms. He plays a burglar, in his seventies, breaking into the Brents' house in Nothing's On. Age: 60s-80s
