Westfield Community Players announces auditions for their third show of the season, the thriller "Rope."
Synopsis-A brilliantly tense play from Patrick Hamilton that was the basis of the film by Alfred Hitchcock. There is no such thing as the perfect murder. Or is there? Two wealthy friends, believing themselves to be intellectually superior to their contemporaries, murder their fellow undergraduate/graduate student purely to see if they can get away with it. They then throw a party, serving food from the top of the trunk where they have hidden the body. Tension and suspicions increase as the evening wears on. "Rope" remains one of the classics of the thriller genre and its themes are still relevant today.
The play will be directed by Peter Curley, with Barbara Ruban as stage manager.
Auditions will be held at the theater on Saturday, November 9 at 2 pm and Sunday November 10 at 2 pm.
Callbacks will be on Wednesday November 13 at 7 pm.
Performance dates will be March 8, 15, 21 & 22 at 8 PM, with matinees on March 9 & 16 at 2 PM and a benefit performance on March 23, also at 2 PM.
Nine characters are needed--
Brandon (Male or Female) (Age 22-34) A wealthy, arrogant, charming, domineering and intelligent University Student who is also a cold-blooded murderer. Feeling superior in all things, and a dangerously firm believer in Nietzsche’s Übermensch concept.
Granillo (Male or Female) (Age 22-34) Brandon’s friend and accomplice in murder, they are less confident and more nervous. Well-thought of as courteous and friendly by others, they grow more nervous and panicked and struggle to hide it even with a few drinks as the night goes on. Very much dominated by Brandon.
Rupert Cadell (Male) (Age 40’s-60’s) Former professor to Brandon and Granillo, Rupert is a charismatic, observant and calculating poet with an injury and mental anguish after experiencing War. Walks with a limp and a cane. Brandon and Granillo consider Rupert almost their intellectual equal…almost. Gradually tries to unravel the murder plot using old fashioned detective work.
Raglan (Male or Female) (Age 22-34) A classmate of Brandon and Granillo, Raglan looks up to Brandon. Simple and quite hopeless but overall likeable with a sense of humor and fun to any dinner party.
Leila Arden (Female) (Age 22-34) A classmate of Brandon and Granillo. Leila is a beautiful, bright, and flirtatious young woman. She likes being the center of attention. She is also a close friend of the murdered victim.
Johnson Kentley (Male) (Age 50’s-60’s) Father of the murder victim. He is very placid. He’s an avid book collector and cares for his family, including his invalid wife.
Mrs Debenham (Female) (Age 50’s-60’s) Johnson Kentley’s sister, she is clueless, silly, distant, and dull. When she does speak, it’s always vague and unimportant. Represents a shallow, upper-class society as well as comic relief in the play.
Mrs Wilson (Female) (Age 40’s-60’s) She is Branford and Granillo’s hired maid, who sets up for the party. Dutiful and attentive, she always does her best to please her employers and guests.
Kentley (Male or Female) (Age 22-29) The murdered student friend of Brandon and Granillo (non-speaking role, seen briefly at the beginning of the play.)