Welcome to open auditions for the Finn-Brit Players' spring production in cooperation with the Passport Theatre Company: Hay Fever by Noel Coward, directed by Adrian Goldman.
The performances will be on 16–20 May 2018. You must be available for an intensive rehearsal period starting about 30 April 2018, that is, rehearsals almost every day. Weekday rehearsals will be in the evenings and weekend rehearsals during the day.
REGISTRATION
The main auditions will take place on Sunday 17 December at 1–6 pm. There may (or may not) be callbacks on 27 December at 6–9 pm or 3 January at 6–9 pm.
If you intend to audition, please click here to book an audition slot in advance. NOTE If all the slots are taken, please email Adrian (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) to arrange an audition time, either before 1 pm or after 6 pm.
PREPARATION
We’d like you to prepare a short monologue in advance, preferably a comedic one. Preparing a monologue is preferred but not essential.
ENTRY TO THE BUILDING
Press the FINNBRIT buzzer by the street door to be let in.
MORE INFORMATION & QUERIES
If you cannot attend the main Sunday auditions, or if there are no available slots left, please contact Adrian (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) to make alternative arrangements. Likewise if you have any questions about the play, rehearsal schedule or other arrangements.
THE PLAY
Hay Fever is a wonderful cross between high farce and an English comedy of bad manners. The play is set in an English country house in the 1920s, and deals with the four eccentric members of the Bliss family and their outlandish behaviour when they each invite a guest to spend the weekend. Each – unbeknownst to the rest – invites down a house guest for a quiet weekend! The self-centred behaviour of the hosts finally drives their guests to flee, while the Blisses are so engaged in a family row that they do not notice their guests' furtive departure.
Written when Noel Coward was just 25, it is the first of his superb comedies that achieved recognition as part of the canon of English comedic play writing stretching back through Wilde to Congreve and Sheridan. It truly is an even 9-hander: there’s not a bad part to be had.
THE CHARACTERS (5F, 4M)
Judith Bliss – an actress of a certain age who has retired (several times) from the stage, which is her natural metier
David Bliss – her husband, a writer of novels that the entire family argue about; inclined to a little dalliance on the side
Simon Bliss – their son, a painter of aggressive daubs
Sorel Bliss – their daughter, an accomplished instrumentalist (but skills NOT required, though welcome!)
Both of the children are every bit as theatrical, as egomaniacal in the nicest possible way, as their parents.
Richard Greatham – a career diplomat (40–60+), who “always says something exquisitely diplomatic”
Myra Arundel – a society lady (35–45) of whom Judith says “she uses sex like a shrimping net”
Sandy Tyrell – a younger “anyone for tennis” sporty chap who has fallen in love with Judith having seen her in some dreadful melodrama
Jackie Coryton – a scared little thing who has been picked by the husband David
Clara – the long-suffering maid, who used to be Judith’s dresser, and is quite coarse with it