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Audition Dates and Times:February 23 and 24 at 7 pm
Audition Venue: Abilene Community Theatre
Audition Venue Address: 809 Barrow Street, Abilene, TX
Audition Inquiries Contact: Gary Varner (Director) at [email protected]
Performance Dates April 17-19 and April 24 - 26
Drama critic Mortimer Brewster’s engagement announcement is upended when he discovers a corpse in his elderly aunts’ window seat. Mortimer rushes to tell Abby and Martha before they stumble upon the body themselves, only to learn that the two old women aren’t just aware of the dead man in their parlor, they killed him! Between his aunts’ penchant for poisoning wine, a brother who thinks he’s Teddy Roosevelt, and another brother using plastic surgery to hide from the police—not to mention Mortimer’s own hesitancy about marriage—it’ll be a miracle if Mortimer makes it to his wedding. Arsenic and Old Lace is a classic black comedy about the only thing more deadly than poison: family.
Acting Roles:
Mortimer Brewster (M) Playing Age 20s/30s – nephew of Abby and Martha, and engaged to Elaine. A nice man who cares for his aunts and is extremely surprised to discover their “hobby” of disposing of old men. Mortimer is the only Brewster who is relatively sane. Needs good comic timing, both verbally and physically – has an entire scene gagged and bound to a chair but still needs to be able to convey both comical expression.
Genders: Male Ages: 20-30, 30-40
Abby and Martha Brewster (F) Playing Age Late 60s-Darling elderly ladies whose main recreation is poisoning elderly men. They are very close sisters and aunts to Teddy, Jonathan, and Mortimer. Need to be able to come across as sweet and oblivious to the fact that they are doing any wrong, and the audience need to be on their side (despite being murderers!)
Genders: Female Ages: 55-65, 65+
Jonathan Brewster (M) Playing Age 30s/40s (but could look older due to the plastic surgery) – Nephew of Abby and Martha, and Mortimer’s brother. A wanted serial killer who is running from the law. Jonathan is a psychopath who has had botched plastic surgery and now looks like Boris Karloff. Needs to exude evil and creates really unnerving and chilling moments in the play. Written as tall and imposing, but the character is more important than the physical attributes.
Genders: Male Ages: 30-40, 40-55
Dr Einstein (M) Playing Age 30s-50s – A failed plastic surgeon and alcoholic. Has changed Jonathan’s face three times, successful only in deforming his appearance. The ‘funny’ man to Johnathan’s straight and sinister demeanour (or the Igor to Johnathan’s Frankenstein), he speaks with a heavy German accent. Strong comic character.
Genders: Male Ages: 30-40, 40-55
Elaine Harper (F) Playing Age 20s/30s – Mortimer’s fiancée, and daughter of Rev. Harper. Whilst a minister’s daughter she’s surprisingly wise in the ways of the world, and has quite a strong independent streak.
Genders: Female Ages: 20-30, 30-40
Teddy Brewster (M) Playing Age 40s – Nephew of Abby and Martha Brewster – believes himself to be Theodore Roosevelt. Quite a lot of charging up and down stairs involved and has an over the top personality. No previous bugle experience necessary!
Genders: Male Ages: 40-55
Officer Brophy and Officer Klein Playing Age 20s-50s – Police officers who regularly visit the Brewster home for tea and cookies, and who have no idea that these kindly old ladies are actually murderers.
Genders: Male, Female Ages: 20-30, 30-40, 40-55, 55-65
Rev Harper (M) Playing Age 50s/60s – Kindly and conservative Minister and father of Elaine, Mortimer’s bride-to-be.
Genders: Male
Ages: 40-55, 55-65
Officer O’Hara (M) Playing Age 40s-50s –: A police officer, and would-be playwright who repeatedly pesters Mortimer to read his play. Strong comic character.
Genders: Male Ages: 30-55
Mr Witherspoon (M) Playing Age 50s-60s – The elderly superintendent of Happy Dale Sanitorium.
Genders: Male Ages: 55-65
Lieutenant Rooney (M) Playing Age 50s – A tough and dominating police officer – takes no nonsense
Genders: Male Ages: 55-65
Mr Gibbs (M) Playing Age 60s –: A bitter old man who wishes to rent a room from the Brewster sisters.
Genders: Male Ages: 55-65, 65+
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
809 Barrow St, Abilene, TX, United States, Texas 79605
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.
