[Capdist-auditions] “Arcadia” Auditions at RPI

[LWAndruski at aol.com]

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 at daaq.net_ (mip://04d1e7e0/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. 

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