February 20th – 25th, 2020
Called “the funniest farce ever written,” Noises Off presents a manic menagerie of itinerant actors rehearsing a flop called Nothing’s On. This play-within-a-play captures a touring theatre troupe’s production of Nothing On in three stages: dress rehearsal, the opening performance, and a performance towards the end of a debilitating run. This hilarious comedy is a window into the inner workings of theatre behind the scenes, progressing from flubbed lines and missed cues in the dress rehearsal to mounting friction between cast members in the final performance. Brimming with slapstick comedy, Noises Off is a delightful backstage farce, complete with slamming doors, falling trousers, and – of course – flying sardines!
Called “the funniest farce ever written,” Noises Off presents a manic menagerie of itinerant actors rehearsing a flop called Nothing’s On. This play-within-a-play captures a touring theatre troupe’s production of Nothing On in three stages: dress rehearsal, the opening performance, and a performance towards the end of a debilitating run. This hilarious comedy is a window into the inner workings of theatre behind the scenes, progressing from flubbed lines and missed cues in the dress rehearsal to mounting friction between cast members in the final performance. Brimming with slapstick comedy, Noises Off is a delightful backstage farce, complete with slamming doors, falling trousers, and – of course – flying sardines!
Auditions
January 6th & 7th
6:30 pm
Characters to cast
Women (Lead/featured “Speaking” parts)
Dotty Otley/Mrs. Clacket – (45-65 years old) Off stage she is a veteran American
actress, forgetful, dating Garry but attempts to make him jealous by meeting with Freddy.
On stage; she is a Cockney housekeeper for the Brent home in England, hospitable but
slow.
Brooke Ashton/Vicki – (20-29 years old) Off stage she is a young inexperienced
American actress who pays no attention to other performers. She is always losing her
contact lenses. In a love triangle with Lloyd and Poppy. On stage she is an English
woman who is trying to woo Roger.
Poppy Norton-Taylor - (25-35 years old) American stage manager,
Emotional and over-sensitive and envious of Brooke, whom she understudies. Carrying
Lloyd’s child. One-third of Lloyd – Poppy - Brooke love triangle.
Belinda Blair/Flavia Brent – (30-45 years old) Off stage she is cheerful and sensible, a
reliable American actress. She may have feelings for Freddy. On stage she plays Phillip
Brent’s English wife, Flavia. She is dependable though not one for household duties.
Men (Lead/featured “Speaking” parts)
Lloyd Dallas – (45-65 years old) The sarcastic director of Nothing’s On. Temperamental. Inflated self-image, comparing himself to God. One-third of Lloyd – Poppy - Brooke love triangle.
Garry Lejeune/Roger Tramplemain – (30-49 years old) Off stage he is an American actor
who never finishes a sentence. Easily fired up, dating Dotty. On stage he plays Roger,
an English Real estate agent who is attempting to rent Flavia’s and Phillip’s home, but
uses it for his own personal benefit.
Frederick Fellowes/Phillip Brent/Sheikh – (40-49 years old) Off stage his is an American
actor with a serious fear of blood and violence. Often blames himself when things go
wrong. On stage as Phillip Brent he is an Englishman who lives out of the country to
avoid paying taxes. Also, on stage, he plays a Sheikh interested in renting Flavia’s and
Phillip’s house and is the spitting image of Phillip.
Tim Allgood – (18 + years old) An over-worked American Assistant Stage Manager.
Understudies Selsdon and Freddy.
Selsden Mowbray/Burglar – (65+ years old) Off stage, he is elderly alcoholic Englishman who hides his bottle on stage. Is hard of hearing when he wants to be. On stage he plays an old Cockney man in his seventies breaking into the Brent’s home.
Dotty Otley/Mrs. Clacket – (45-65 years old) Off stage she is a veteran American
actress, forgetful, dating Garry but attempts to make him jealous by meeting with Freddy.
On stage; she is a Cockney housekeeper for the Brent home in England, hospitable but
slow.
Brooke Ashton/Vicki – (20-29 years old) Off stage she is a young inexperienced
American actress who pays no attention to other performers. She is always losing her
contact lenses. In a love triangle with Lloyd and Poppy. On stage she is an English
woman who is trying to woo Roger.
Poppy Norton-Taylor - (25-35 years old) American stage manager,
Emotional and over-sensitive and envious of Brooke, whom she understudies. Carrying
Lloyd’s child. One-third of Lloyd – Poppy - Brooke love triangle.
Belinda Blair/Flavia Brent – (30-45 years old) Off stage she is cheerful and sensible, a
reliable American actress. She may have feelings for Freddy. On stage she plays Phillip
Brent’s English wife, Flavia. She is dependable though not one for household duties.
Men (Lead/featured “Speaking” parts)
Lloyd Dallas – (45-65 years old) The sarcastic director of Nothing’s On. Temperamental. Inflated self-image, comparing himself to God. One-third of Lloyd – Poppy - Brooke love triangle.
Garry Lejeune/Roger Tramplemain – (30-49 years old) Off stage he is an American actor
who never finishes a sentence. Easily fired up, dating Dotty. On stage he plays Roger,
an English Real estate agent who is attempting to rent Flavia’s and Phillip’s home, but
uses it for his own personal benefit.
Frederick Fellowes/Phillip Brent/Sheikh – (40-49 years old) Off stage his is an American
actor with a serious fear of blood and violence. Often blames himself when things go
wrong. On stage as Phillip Brent he is an Englishman who lives out of the country to
avoid paying taxes. Also, on stage, he plays a Sheikh interested in renting Flavia’s and
Phillip’s house and is the spitting image of Phillip.
Tim Allgood – (18 + years old) An over-worked American Assistant Stage Manager.
Understudies Selsdon and Freddy.
Selsden Mowbray/Burglar – (65+ years old) Off stage, he is elderly alcoholic Englishman who hides his bottle on stage. Is hard of hearing when he wants to be. On stage he plays an old Cockney man in his seventies breaking into the Brent’s home.
Instructions
You will be asked to read from the script with other actors in a scene