Bookworms Auditions

AUDITION DATES:
Thursday, June 25 at 6pm or Saturday, June 27 at 11am
(auditioners need only attend one day)

BASIL BURWELL COMMUNITY THEATER:
17 Court Street, Belfast, Maine

PERFORMANCE DATES:
September 3-13

An Overview:

This month’s Book Club hostess Ann is struggling to stay calm, desperate to deliver the perfect evening of literary classics and late-night canapés. But when the all-female group invite their husbands to join the club, and a mysterious figure pays a visit from an upstairs room, everyone is forced to contend with a lot more than just Virginia Woolf. In Bernard Farrell's Bookworms, opinions are challenged, suspicions aroused and tempers flare as their daily lives unravel into a saga to rival even the most outrageous fiction.

What to Expect:

Auditions will consist of cold reading of excerpts (sides) from the script. You may be asked to read sides for other characters and you may be asked to read with multiple scene partners. Please arrive at the start time for auditions.

If you have any questions, or if you are interested in auditioning but unable to attend either audition date, please email director Michael Toner at towntoneactor@gmail.com.

For those wishing to familiarize themselves with the script in advance, a public table reading will be held on Monday, June 15 at 6:00pm at the theater. All are welcome to participate, regardless of intent to audition.

Character Breakdown:

ANN (female, late 20s to 50s): Married to Larry and mother to Aisling. A “hausfrau” nervous type but by no means docile, insecure, she worries about having a successful gathering of the book club she and husband Larry are hosting. Always over-prepares, wants to keep everybody happy. Over-protective of daughter Aisling in Australia. Will do anything to keep the peace, keep the family together. But can rein in Larry when he gets too abrasive.

LARRY (male, 30s to 50s): Husband to Ann and father of Aisling. As a builder in the present crashing of the ”Celtic Tiger” Irish economy, Larry is in bad financial straits, and highly indebted to bank loans from Robert, head of local bank, whom Larry resents. Larry also over-protective of daughter Aisling. Quick-tempered, easily riled. Protective too of his brother Vincent.

AISLING (female, late teens to 30s): Daughter to Ann and Larry, she is spending her gap year (between high school and university) in Australia. Concerned for parents and Uncle Vincent. Though she is glad to get away from over-protective parents, and be on her own and socializing with peers, having fun in Australia, finding herself. Full of the joy and energy of youth. Not afraid to stand up to / be truthful with parents when necessary. Bright, quite mature for her age. An only child, but not spoiled by any means. Can do “parenting” with her parents.

DOROTHY (female, 60s to 70s): A wealthy widow, refined, who has inherited her husband’s estate. Loves to talk / bemoan all the recent dead among family and friends. A real chowhound, always nibbling on food when chance allows. A gossip who has pried secrets from Ann. Affable and by no means snooty.

ROBERT (male, 40s to 60s): Married to Jennifer. A true alpha-male, full of self-assurance, sociable, he’s the local bank manager who lords it over Larry for his indebtedness. He has an eye for younger women, a suspicious past there. Likes to always be in charge of any gathering. Clashes with Larry over debts, and with his wife when he’s drinking.

JENNIFER (female, late 20s to 50s): Wife to Robert. A former schoolteacher, she likes to be in charge of things. Confident, energetic, treats her peers like students. Super-organized type. She has a study plan / outline for how the book club discussions should go. Suspicious of her husband’s possible liaisons. She also keeps a close eye on Robert’s imbibing of alcohol.

VINCENT (male, 40s to 60s): Brother to Larry. A recluse of sorts, quiet, gaunt. He has a hidden past, where he almost crucified a suspected pedophile in England, served time in prison for this. Presently a “late vocation” priesthood candidate, but lives with Larry and Ann. A bit of a nut case, he gets riled up unexpectedly at times. His hobby of building miniature cathedrals keeps him out of trouble. Someone who bears watching, constantly.