The Play That Goes Wrong AUDITION

Audition Dates:

September 22, 2024, 6:00 pm

September 23, 2024, 6:00 pm

Callbacks

Wednesday, September 25th: 6:00pm - 9:00pm

Rehearsal Days *STARTING NOVEMBER 12th*

Sundays: 6:30pm - 9:30pm
Tuesdays: 6:30pm - 9:30pm
Thursdays: 6:30pm - 9:30pm

Performance Dates

Media Night: February 19th
February Performances: February 21st, 22rd, 27th, 28th
March Performances: March 1st, 6th, 7th, 8th
POTENTIAL ADD-ON PERFORMANCE: March 5th

Audition Information

All actors auditioning for The Play That Goes Wrong will arrive at The Playhouse no later than 6:00pm. Upon entering the building, you will be given a form to fill out. During this time character descriptions and pertinent information will be given to all in attendance, and you will check off all roles you feel comfortable being considered for. Then all actors will read script excerpts (which can be found linked below) of the roles they checked off, in a group setting. There is no singing or choreographed dancing in the audition.

Special Considerations

The Play That Goes Wrong is a very physically demanding show. Actors considering auditioning for this production should be in good physical shape and maintain good hygiene. Most roles will require varying amounts of crawling, climbing up and down a ladder, lifting, running, falling, and stage combat.

The Play That Goes Wrong requires actors who will be present for rehearsals - for the safety of everyone on stage. Please double check the timeframe of the production to ensure you are available to attend all rehearsals you are called in for.

The Play That Goes Wrong is a farcical murder mystery, a play within a play. Cornley Polytechnic Dramatic Society presents A Murder at Haversham Manor, and everything that can go wrong, does. We are looking for truthful, funny, physically adept performers who can commit to the style of the play and fully inhabit the characters. It is vital to believe in the characters who are performing the play within the play, as that is where the heartbreaking comedy comes from. With that in mind, we are looking for actors with a keen ability and understanding of comedy but are able to play the truth of the scene.

Audition/Callback Scenes

All audition and callback material that will be used for each character can be found here.

Click here for Audition and Callback Material

PLEASE NOTE: MEMORIZATION IS NOT REQUIRED.

Show Synopsis

“From Mischief, Broadway masters of comedy, comes the smash hit farce. Welcome to opening night of ‘The Murder at Haversham Manor’, where things are quickly going from bad to utterly disastrous. This uproarious whodunit has everything you never wanted in a show - an unconscious leading lady, a corpse that can’t play dead, and actors who trip over everything (including their lines). Nevertheless, the accident-prone thespians battle against all odds to make it through to their final curtain call, with hilarious consequences! Part Monty Python, part Sherlock Holmes, this Tony Award-winning comedy is a global phenomenon that’s guaranteed to leave you aching with laughter!”

Show Risk

The Play That Goes Wrong is performed on a set with many moving pieces and parts. The physical nature of the show comes with slight risk of injury if you are not cautious. While safety will be prioritized and everything will be rehearsed to ensure familiarity with how things work - there will always be risk of an injury. If you are someone who already deals with a debilitating injury, disability, or anything that increases your risk of being more significantly impacted if you were hurt - we ask you to reconsider auditioning. While we will do everything in our power to keep everyone safe, accidents do happen, and we don’t want anyone at a higher risk of being significantly injured being put in that position.

Age Restrictions

Due to the physical risks and demands of the show, we are asking everyone who auditions be 18+.

Virtual Auditions

If you are unable to attend our in-person auditions but still want to be considered for the show, please email Shelby Wray (producer) at shelbshaga@gmail.com with your name, and express your desire to submit for the show. You will be sent instructions on what to include for a video submission. While our in-person auditions are highly preferred, we will still consider anyone that submits a video.

Additional Information

Your photo will be taken prior to your audition
You do not need to print out any scenes, they will all be provided
Auditions are closed to family and friends, they cannot come in and watch
Audition pairings will be selected at random
Most characters speak with a light British accent (don’t worry if yours isn’t perfect).

Creative Team

While there are many people involved behind the scenes, if you have any question(s) you need answered about the show and/or audition process - please contact one of the following people:

Director: David Jeffery (davidjeffery967@msn.com)

Producer: Shelby Wray (shelbshaga@gmail.com)

Stage Manager: Otis Bates (robotisbates@hotmail.com)

Prod. Assistant: Rayne Williams (kennedyrayne97@gmail.com)

Character Breakdowns (6 male roles, 2 female roles)

Jonathan (18 - 40) Male

Plays Charles Haversham. He technically has to drive the show. Not the strongest actor, but sees himself as a James Bond type. He is excited to be in the show and is having fun. Very physical role. RP accent.

Robert (18 - 50) Male.

Plays Thomas Colleymoore - Charles’ old school friend, and Florence’s brother. He wants to be Richard Burton (formidable and a bit pompous) with a declamatory acting style. Earnest and optimistic, he believes the show is going much more smoothly than it really is. As a result, he doesn’t feel badly when things go wrong and never learns from his mistakes. RP accent.

Chris (30 - 60) Male.

Plays Inspector Carter, but is also Head of the Drama Society and Director of the show. High status clown. This is the biggest day of his life. Rigid and uptight. Every time someone laughs, he becomes more frustrated at both his fellow actors and the audience. Everything rides on the plays’ success. RP accent.

Sandra (18 - 40) Female.

Plays Florence Colleymoore - Charles’ fiancee, and Thomas’ sister. She is a diva and the company’s leading lady who thinks she’s more talented than she really is. Vain with a huge ego. Wants to be loved. Ambitions to go to Hollywood, and will hurt anyone standing in her way. The stakes are high for her. RP accent.

Dennis (18 - 70) Male.

Plays Perkins - Charles’ butler. Probably the worst actor of the bunch. Has no real desire to be involved in theatre; he just wants friends. He believes if he does well in the show, he will be more successful socially. Laughter from the audience is agony for him. He is slightly oblivious, but understands when he gets things wrong. Has big words written on his hand and mispronounces them all. RP accent.

Max (18 - 40) Male.

Plays Cecil Haversham - Charles’ brother, also plays Arthur - Charles’ gardener. He has never been on stage before. He learned his lines and does exactly what he’s told to do. He has zero connection with any of the other actors. When he gets a laugh, he breaks the 4th wall and engages with the audience. Dopey, childlike, and naive. RP accent.

Annie (18 - 40) Female.

The stage manager of The Murder at Haversham Manor. She can generally solve problems quickly. She has the biggest journey of any of the characters. When she has to step in as the leading lady, she is initially terrified by acting but willing to kill for it by the end of the play. Her initial terror turns to joy, and then to fury. No accent.

Trevor (18 - 60) Male.

The light and sound operator of The Murder at Haversham Manor. He simply wants to get on with the show. He doesn’t care for actors. He is easily distracted and does many things he shouldn’t, including interacting with the audience. When things go sideways he is forced to act in the play. He hates acting. No accent.

Guests (18 - 99) Any.