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On Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:54:24 EDT Greg Zabielski wrote:

The Delta Xi Cast of Alpha Psi Omega, the National Theatre Honor Society at
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute will hold auditions for Tom Stoppard’s
“Arcadia” in the RPI Playhouse, 15th Street, just south of Sage Avenue, in
Troy, New York.  Audition dates are June 17 and 18 from 7-10:00 P.M.
 Monologues are not necessary, those auditioning will read directly from
the script.  Auditions are open to all.   For additional information,
please contact the director, Peter Kantor, directly at at 518-334-3690 or 
email him at business@daaq.net.

Arcadia is set in Sidley Park, an English country house, in the beginning 
of the 19th century and in the present day, juxtaposing the activities of 
two modern scholars and the house's current residents with the lives of
those who lived there two centuries earlier.

In 1809, Thomasina Coverly, the daughter of the house, is a precocious
teenager with ideas about mathematics well ahead of her time. She studies
with her tutor, Septimus Hodge, a friend of Lord Byron, , who is an unseen
guest in the house. In 1989, a writer and an academic converge on the
house: Hannah Jarvis, the writer, is investigating a hermit who once
lived on the grounds; Bernard Nightingale, a professor of literature, is
investigating a mysterious chapter in the life of Byron. As their
investigations unfold, helped by Valentine Coverly, a post-graduate
student in mathematical biology, the truth about what happened in 1809 is 
gradually revealed.

The show is a comedy of words dancing around serious themes.  As with much
Stoppard, it is not so much a play as a dance that has words for music, and
emotions for dance steps. Also, almost all the adult roles need to be
masters of the pro forma backstab, since they move in circles where such
things are required but not to be taken offence at. You do not need to
prepare anything for this audition. Just bring yourselves, your voices, and
your manners of presentation.

English accents will be needed by almost all characters, though in a pinch
some of the modern day cast members can be most anything. Accents will not
be required for auditions, but will be appreciated if well done.

Available Roles

Characters of 1809

· Thomasina Coverly, age 13-16:  The daughter of Lord and Lady Croom,
Thomasina is a precocious young genius. She proposes mathematical models
that echo modern day chaos theory well before its time, performing math no
one thought to attempt before computers made it “possible”. She has a sharp
wit thinly hidden behind the veneer of youthful innocence that is expected
of her. She has a crush on Septimus which grows into a more mature love by
the end of the show.
· Septimus Hodge, early 20’s: Thomasina's tutor and the academic colleague
and friend of Lord Byron (an unseen but important character in the play).
While teaching Thomasina he works on his own research. Educated, civil, and
a hallmark of propriety, he has an ongoing affair with Mrs. Chater. At the
end of the show, he acknowledges his love for Thomasina and ends up
devoting the rest of his life to her, even though she will no longer be
there to share that devotion.
· Jellaby, middle-aged: The Crooms' butler at Sidley Park. His chief
functions are to spread gossip and deliver letters.
· Ezra Chater, early 30’s: An amateur poet and marginal botanist staying at
Sidley Park. His wife's affairs lead him to challenge Septimus to a series
of duels, each avoided by Septimus’ quick wit. Ezra, thought certainly well
educated, is not exactly the sharpest knife in the drawer.
· Richard Noakes, middle-aged: Mr. Noakes is Lady Croom's gardener.
Throughout the play he is working on transforming the romantic,
Arcadia-like landscape of Sidley Park into the Gothic style popular at
the time (an idea that Lady Croom begrudgingly agrees to).
· Lady Croom, late 30’s: Thomasina's mother, who rules the Coverly estate
with an iron fist. There is a good deal of flirtation between her and
Septimus (as well as other gentlemen) through the play. She may come off a
tad flighty, but it is clear that Thomasina got her sharp wit from
somewhere.
· Captain Brice, mid-30’s: The brother of Lady Croom is a sea captain. He
does not think much of Mr. Noakes and his Gothic style, but is very much in
love with Mrs. Chater, whom he marries after the unfortunate death of Ezra
in a botany accident.
· Augustus Coverly, age 15: Thomasina’s brother and one year younger than
she. He only appears and the end of the show. He is arrogant in that
teenager trying to prove they are a man sort of way. He is the antithesis 
of Gus (see below), who is played by the same person.

Characters of the present

· Hannah Jarvis, late 30’s: An author of historical treatises on gardening,
Hanna is researching the elusive hermit of Sidley Park, who lived in the
hermitage there in the early 1800s.  Very practical and pragmatic, a jeans
and t-shirt sort of scholar not afraid to tromp about in the mud, she has
intentionally forgotten how to even spell the word frivolity.
· Chloe Coverly, age 18:  Chloe is the modern day Thomasina, the daughter 
of the modern day Lady Croom. Like Thomasina, Chloe is very perceptive and
intelligent. She may not be a precocious genius, but she also doesn’t hide
herself behind social custom. Chloe tries to play matchmaker to Hanna and
Bernard, but ends up with him herself.
· Bernard Nightingale, late 30’s:  A don at a modern university, Bernard
comes to Sidley Park hoping to work with Hannah on his theory about Lord
Byron staying at the estate. He tends to forget everyone and everything
else  when caught up in an idea, which proves his moral downfall when the
resulting paper is quickly proven to be in error based on evidence that had
been right in front of him. He is a very flamboyant dresser with a penchant
for bright colors.
· Valentine Coverly, late 20’s:  A graduate student of mathematics, where 
he is trying to mathematically model grouse. Valentine is Chloe's older
brother. A foppish eccentric in that subtle born-to-wealth sort of way.
After poring over several old documents he finds on the estate, he
reluctantly comes to acknowledge Thomasina's genius. He abandons his own
research to finish proving her theories.
· Gus Coverly, age 15:  Pathologically shy, he never speaks during the
show, and has not spoken since the age of five. Has a crush on Hannah. He 
is the antithesis of Augustus. Both are played by the same person.
Gus/Agustus helps to pass several important props from past to present,
and helps connect key moments in the play.

Chartered at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1937, The Delta Xi cast of
Alpha Psi Omega was formed to honor outstanding work in theater on the RPI
campus. To date, over 300 members have been inducted into our cast.
 Although most members of the Delta Xi cast are RPI students, the cast
unhesitatingly accept alumni and community members who demonstrate
excellence in any field of performing arts.


-- 
~Gregory Zabielski
President Delta Xi Cast : Alpha Psi Omega
With thanks to Laura Andruski.
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