[Capdist-auditions] AN IDEAL HUSBAND - Schenectady Civic - January 5 & 7

[lwandruski at aol.com]

Audition Notice for AN IDEAL HUSBAND
Schenectady Civic Players will holdauditions for their production of Oscar Wilde’s AN IDEAL HUSBAND on January 5and 7, 2010 at the Civic Playhouse, 12  S. Church St., in downtown Schenectady. Sign-ups begin at 7:00 p.m. Auditions begin at 7:30 p.m.  No preparedmaterials required.  Those auditioningwill read directly from the script.



ABOUT THE PLAY:
A dazzling blend of farce andmorality by one of the greatest playwrights of the nineteenth century, AN IDEALHUSBAND is a scintillating, satirical expose of politics and ethics.  With a cast of young lovers, society matrons,an overbearing father and a formidable femme fatale exchanging sparklingrepartee, AN IDEAL HUSBAND continues to delight audiences with its timeless andtimely relevance over a century after its wildly successful 1895 debut.  Deliciously acerbic, delectable and biting,Wilde’s witty concoction is light-as-a-feather, sumptuous and elegant.


AVAILABLE ROLES:


Sir Robert Chiltern, age30-50 - Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, a member of Englishsociety, and married to the honest and respectable Lady Chiltern, Sir RobertChiltern is the hero of the play. Early in his public career Chiltern soldstate secrets to Baron Arnheim, from which he became quite rich. The past comesback to haunt him when Mrs. Cheveley arrives at his home and blackmails himwith evidence of his wrongdoing. Chiltern, who is powerfully dependent on hisill-gotten wealth, struggles between succumbing to Mrs. Cheveley's blackmailand living an honest life. Fortunately, he is saved from disgrace through avariety of happenstance occurrences, and in fact discovers an even greaterhappiness in his marriage and government work than he had known before hisstatus and professional career were threatened.


Lord Goring, age 30-40 - avery clever and dashing man who lives a life of simple luxury and avoidsprofessional pursuits. He is always impeccably dressed in the most up to datefashion, and demonstrates substantial intelligence and a penchant for acuteanalysis of human behavior. Ironically, he also prides himself on rejecting theexpectations of society. A close friend of Sir Robert Chiltern, Goring wiselycounsels him after Mrs. Cheveley, whom Goring was once engaged to, reveals herblackmail scheme. He also works to heal the wounds between Lady Chiltern andher husband and to destroy Mrs. Cheveley's evil scheme. Lord Goring is quitesuccessful in these endeavors and in fact proves to be a hero of the play. Inthe final scenes of the play, he proposes to Mabel Chiltern, who accepts him.


Lady Gertrude Chiltern, age25-45 - Sir Robert Chiltern's wife, champion of the Higher Education ofwomen, a member of the Woman's Liberal Association, and a moral, upstandingcitizen. Lady Chiltern also attended school with Mrs. Cheveley, and knows herto be dishonest and unkind. Lady Chiltern expects perfection from her husband,which makes it difficult for her to understand that he might have mistakes inhis past. However, she loves her husband dearly and finally accepts that everyman is somehow flawed. 


Mrs. Laura Cheveley, age25-45 - Mrs. Cheveley, who attended school with Lady Chiltern, isdishonest, selfish, and manipulative. The villain of the play, she arrives atthe Chiltern's party and blackmails Robert Chiltern with a dishonest letter hewrote early in his public career that reveals state secrets for monetary gain.Mrs. Cheveley revels in wielding power over others and tells Sir Chiltern thatin order to prevent her from publishing the letter, he must support her currentfinancial scheme, the Argentinean Canal. Later, Lord Goringtricks her into admitting theft and successfully foils her scheme to destroyRobert Chiltern and his marriage.


Miss Mabel Chiltern, age18-27 - Sir Robert Chiltern's sister. Mabel constantly teases LordGoring and flirts with him throughout the play. She complains often that TommyTrafford proposes to her in a most unpleasant manner. In the final scenes ofthe play, Lord Goring proposes to her and she accepts his hand. 


Lord Caversham, age 55+ - LordGoring's father, Caversham prides himself on dignity and honor. Cavershamconstantly belittles his dandy of a son publicly and privately, accusing him ofan idle life and urging him to begin a professional career and marry.


Lady Basildon, 30-40+ - Mrs.Marchmont's primary companion at the Chiltern party, she is a frequentcomplainer. The two women discuss a variety of "current" socialissues and are highly superficial.


Mrs. Marchmont, age 30-40+ - LadyBasildon's primary companion at the Chiltern party. The two women discuss a varietyof "current" social issues and are highly superficial.


Lady Markby, age 30-40+ - Apleasant woman who is friends with Mrs. Cheveley and brings her to the Chilternhome. Lady Markby is very traditional in her views, rejecting higher educationfor women and longing for more simple days where women simply wished for theattention of a husband. 


Phipps, age 25-40 - LordGoring's butler, Phipps represents the "dominance of form". He isknown for his complete reticence, making him the "ideal butler". 


Vicomte de Nanjac, age 25-40- A guest at the Chiltern's party, the Vicomte talks with many of thewomen. He asks Mabel to dance with him, recognizes Mrs. Cheveley from knowingher in Berlinfive years previous, and excessively, almost comically, compliments the Englishlanguage.  French accent a plus. 


Mr. Monford, age 25-40 - secretaryto Sir Robert Chiltern, also described as a dandy. 


Mason, age 25-40 - SirRobert Chiltern's Butler,he announces all guests at the Chiltern home. 


Assorted society-types, footmen,butlers, and maids.  (PleaseNote:  Running crew will be costumed andmay assume some of these roles.)  


Unless otherwise noted, all roles require a Standard British Dialect.  


AN IDEAL HUSBAND will be directed by Laura W. Andruski.  The producer is Rich Messina.  Set Design by Duncan Morrison.  Costumes by Pat Casey.  Lighting Design by Don Mealy.  Perusal scripts available.  For further information or to request ascript, please contact the director at LWAndruski at aol.comor call 383-8277.  


Production dates are March 19-21 and March 24-28, 2010.  Rehearsals begin January 10th.
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