AUDITIONS
VENUS IN FUR and CLUE THE PLAY (based on the cult classic movie)
SUNDAY 28th February - 1pm
At: Some Theatre Company in the Bangor Mall.
Show Dates for Venus in Fur - April 28, 29, May 1, 2
Show dates for Clue - April 8, 9, 10, 11
COLD READINGS FROM THE SCRIPTS - You may prepare a comedic monologue if you wish
COVID19 Safety protocols in masks - everyone must be masked and stay socially distant from anyone not in their personal party.
VENUS IN FUR - by David Ives
CASTING ONE MAN, ONE WOMAN
Directed by Logan Bard
Venus in Fur is a two-person play by David Ives set in modern New York City. The play had its premiere off-Broadway at the Classic Stage Company in 2010 and on Broadway in 2011.
Thomas Novachek, a director/playwright, has suffered through a long day of abysmal auditions for his adaptation of the German sadomasochistic novel Venus in Furs, until Vanda, a crass and pushy actress, stumbles into his audition room. While Vanda shares the lead character’s name, she lacks her sophistication. However, when Thomas agrees to let Vanda read for the role, she displays a surprising understanding of the material. Working through the script with Thomas playing the masochistic male lead, the roleplay becomes intense, erotic, and less like acting. David Ives’ mesmerizing play explores themes of submission, domination, and power with a fast-paced, mutable language he is known for. Reality and pretend become blurred lines in Venus in Fur, and the question of “who’s on top” always has a different answer.
Thomas: Male, 30-39
A hot “up and coming” writer-director with great respect for art and literature; intellectual and entitled, he expects others to live up to the high standards he has set for himself and his work; handsome, tortured, and virile, and is easily brought into the world of his play by his sexual drive; willing to grovel and worship the character’s idea of femininity, and is both excited and terrified of it at the same time; must have the acting chops to handle the character in the play he is directing (a 19th century Austrian aristocrat obsessed with his maid); note: role requires being comfortable wearing undergarments on stage.
Vanda: Female, 20-29
An actress; seemingly ditzy and flighty, but she is actually fiercely intelligent in an instinctive way; a manipulator who stunningly transforms in and out of her roles of “desperate actor trying to get the job” and worshipped goddess; highly charismatic and sexual; eventually takes on the dominant position of the character she is auditioning for; funny, sexy, and scary all at the same time; able to switch from quirky girl to seductive woman in the blink of an eye; note: role requires being comfortable wearing undergarments on stage.
“The teeter-tottering test of wills that takes place in VENUS IN FUR makes even the most fraught encounter between a domineering director and a sensitive performer seem like a play date in the sandbox. Actors may be pleased to hear that in this ninety minutes of good, kinky fun, the upper hand does not necessarily belong to the usual suspect.” —NY Times.
“VENUS IN FUR invites both carnal and cerebral excitement…” —Village Voice.
“Ives has crafted a modern take on a classic tale, skillfully twisting his plot and characters in a fast-paced journey into one man’s entrapment by a clever, vengeful female.” —Associated Press.
“You want funny? You want sexy? Then you’ll want to see VENUS IN FUR.” —New Jersey Newsroom.
CLUE: ON STAGE (based on the movie) By Sandy Rustin
CASTING AGES 18+
Directed by Elaine Bard
WADSWORTH
A traditional British butler in every sense: uptight, formal, and “by the book.” He is the driving force in the play.
YVETTE
A sexy, French Maid, with her own secret aspirations. (Also plays THE REPORTER in the final scene).
MISS SCARLET
A dry, sardonic D.C. Madam who is more interested in secrets than sex.
MRS. PEACOCK
The church-going wife of a Senator. A bit batty, neurotic, and quick to hysteria.
MRS. WHITE
A pale, morbid, and tragic woman. Mrs. White may or may not be the murderer of her five ex-husbands.
COLONEL MUSTARD
A puffy, pompous, dense, blow-hard of a military man.
PROFESSOR PLUM
An academic Casanova who woos women with his big … brain.
MR. GREEN
A timid, yet officious, rule follower. He’s a bit of a klutz and awfully anxious.
ENSEMBLE WOMAN TO PLAY:
THE COOK – A threatening presence.
THE MOTORIST – A benign gentleman who rings the wrong doorbell.
AUXILIARY SCARLET – The back of Miss Scarlet during a scene of theatrical trickery.
AUXILIARY WADSWORTH – Wadsworth during two scenes of theatrical trickery.
AN AGENT – An FBI agent who helps to save the day.
ENSEMBLE MAN 1:
MR. BODDY, a slick, Frank Sinatra, film noir-esque type fella.
(Alive and Dead.)
THE MOTORIST, a professional driver. (Alive and Dead.)
CHIEF OF POLICE, a cop who helps to save the day.
ENSEMBLE MAN 2:
THE UNEXPECTED COP, a regular Joe. (Alive and Dead.)
BACKUP COP, backup for the Chief.
AUXILIARY MUSTARD, the back of Colonel Mustard during a
scene of theatrical trickery.
Adapted from the screenplay by
JONATHAN LYNN
Additional Materials by
HUNTER FOSTER, ERIC PRICE, & SANDY RUSTIN
CLUE
Based on the screenplay by Jonathan Lynn
Written by Sandy Rustin
Additional material by Hunter Foster and Eric Price
Based on the Paramount Pictures Motion Picture based on the Hasbro board game CLUE
Vagina Monologues - Directed by Becky Adams
She Kills Monsters - Directed by Elaine Bard
Shirley Valentine - Directed by Elaine Bard
Venus in Fur - Directed by Logan Bard
Casa Valentina - Directed by Ben Layman
Dracula - Directed by Deb Elz-Hammond
Puffs - Directed by Elaine Bard
Turn of the Screw - Directed by Elaine Bard
Cries in the Night - Directed by Elaine Bard