ADRIFT IN NEW YORK - A MELODRAMA Adelaide Repertory Theatre Written By: Addison Aulger Directed By: Rose Vallen Said to be one of the best Gay Nineties (1890’s) melodramas, Adrift in New York begins at the Old Homestead where "our Nell" is enticed by the villain to go to New York and sing in a fine music hall. The second act is at a Bowery honky-tonk where she makes her New York debut. Then back at the Old Homestead, "our Nell," having endured many trials and tribulations, comes home after walking from the railroad station through a terrible storm. And—happy end—she's still "pure as the driven snow!" Roles Available: note the parts of Maggie and Sadie have already been cast SILAS WESTON: A Stern New England Farmer, father to our heroine Nellie. Robust and a bit blustering. Very moralistic and stubborn. Stage Age: 60-70. Singing and dancing not required. NELLIE WESTON: Pretty and attractive, she is the ethereal type and has dreamed of the grandeur and thrill of becoming a great singer in New York City. Even though she is only a farmer’s daughter she has made a great effort to develop her poise and grace. Stage Age: 18 – 20. Sings the Chorus of “My Mother was a lady” – Soprano/Mezzo Soprano MARTHA WESTON: Nellies older sister, she has a quick eye for an attractive man. Would be the type who reads romance novels. Her gestures are broad and forceful when the line allows, overacts a bit. Stage Age 20 – 25. Singing and dancing not required but can join the chorus where appropriate. SARAH WESTON: Silas Weston’s sister, a spinster lady who has enjoyed 45 – 60 years of single bliss. She has a sharp tongue when needed, and she speaks her own mind. Her movements are snappy and her voice is crisp and clear. Singing and Dancing not required but can join the chorus where appropriate. JACK MERRIWELL: Jack is a typical young rural character lead. Wears a flannel shirt! Steadfast and heroic, he is played for serious comedy. He walks with a plodding stride. Stage Age 20 – 25. Singing and Dancing not required but can join the chorus where appropriate. FRANCIS DESMOND: The villain. He always overacts. Typical city slicker who could be taken for a very suave and polished gentleman, except when he slips into the traditional dastardly, bloodthirsty died-in-the-wool villain. Stage Age: 35-40. Singing and dancing not required. BURKE: He is a forceful character, quite calm and sure of himself. Stage Age – 35-55. Singing and Dancing not required but can join the chorus where appropriate. HI PERKINS: A typical small-town constable. Cowboy type. Any Age. Singing and dancing required as this character will be part of the chorus. DAN FOGARTY: Dan is a very forceful character with all the pride and dignity one would expect from the owner of a high-class joint in the Bowery. A bit of a showman. Could speak with a brogue. Stage Age: 30 – 50. Singing and dancing required as this character will be part of the chorus. MONTY MORAN: Typical Bowery tough mug. A nice fellow, but a crook. East side accent and a flashy dresser. Stage Age: 25-45. Singing and dancing required as this character will be part of the chorus. CHORUS: 4 - 6 Men, 4- 6 Women any age. Singing and dancing required. Need a good mix of voices. The chorus will sing and dance Gay Nineties style numbers at the beginning of each act and to cover scene changes. They will also manage a crowd sing-along and act as ‘the emcee’ for the show, so they will have lines and jokes. Some of the melodrama actors can be part of the chorus. There will be several Speciality Acts during the Bowery Scene depending on the available talent. These could include: • Circus type performances e.g. magician, juggler, acrobat etc. • The Balloon Dance (Large Male required) • Barbershop Quartet • Comedic songs e.g. The Hole in the Elephants Bottom, A Little of What you Fancy, Daddy won’t buy me a Bow Wow If you have a Speciality Act please send a brief video of you performing it to rosev@adelaiderep.com Rehearsals: Rehearsals will start the week of 25th August. They will be held Tuesday and Thursday evenings 7 – 10 pm and Sunday Afternoons 1 – 4 (ish). Let us know if you will be away for any part of the rehearsal period and please don’t commit to the show if you can’t be at every rehearsal. Performances: Nov 13th – 15th and Nov 19th – 21st at 7:30 pm and Sunday 16th and Saturday 22nd Matinees @ 3pm Venue: The Arts Theatre Auditions: Auditions will be on 26 April 2025 Singing and dancing 10 – 11:30 am we will learn one of the songs and add choreography (just like a rehearsal). There will be no solo singing or dancing required. If you want to be in the musical numbers you must attend this. Group audition for all Parts below: 12 Noon – 1:30 pm We will read sections of the script as a group, giving different people a chance to read specific parts. This will give us the chance to see how characters “fit” together. BOOK YOUR AUDITION HERE: https://www.trybooking.com/DAJYT Venue: Thomas Nave Room at the Arts Theatre, 53 Angas Street Adelaide More Information: Contact Liz Olsson on 0414 866 952 or email lizo@adelaiderep.com THE RIVALS Fifth Business Theatre Company Written By: Richard Brinsley Sheridan Directed By: Andrew Hawkins Lydia Languish is obsessed with the romantic novels of her time and dreams of marrying a penniless suitor for love. Unfortunately for Captain Jack Absolute, he is anything but poor, so he is forced to disguise himself as penniless ‘Ensign Beverley’ to try and win Lydia’s heart. Apart from Lydia’s unrealistic expectations, he must also contend with other rivals for her affections, as well as navigating the fact that Lydia is forever under the watchful eye of her guardian aunt - the ridiculously comical and dim-witted Mrs Malaprop. With mistaken identities and mischievous house staff outsmarting their so called ‘superiors,’ there is much chaos and comedy to follow. A biting satire on prejudice, chauvinism and the romantic notions that can blind us to the love that is right in front of us. Roles Available: Captain Jack Absolute (stage age 20s/30s) A captain in the army, Jack Absolute is well-spoken, savvy, dashing, and resourceful. He is the son of a tyrannical father, whom he enjoys provoking into outbursts of rage. He poses as a penniless Ensign Beverley in order to try and win the heart of Lydia Languish, a young lady who believes that true romance is to be found in poverty and lowly social station. This results in many misunderstandings and romantic rivals that challenge him to duels. Jack is constantly having to think on his feet as he navigates the many twists and turns of keeping up a deception. (Upper-class British or neutral accent preferred) Lydia Languish (stage age 20s/30s) Heiress to a fortune, Lydia is a young lady whose head is stuffed with the fantastic adventures of popular fiction. She is in love with the romantic notion that hers must be a forbidden love if it is to be like the romantic fiction she devours. She therefore cannot bear the thought of marrying anyone in her own class. She spurns Jack Absolute when she learns that he is not the penniless Ensign Beverley, but she is very impressed when she learns that he is willing to fight several duels for her. She is a paradoxical character: charming and petulant by turns, but utterly committed to what she passionately believes in, even if it means rebelling against her dominant guardian aunt the formidable Mrs Malaprop. (Upper-class British or neutral accent preferred) Mrs. Malaprop (stage age 40s – 70s) Mrs. Malaprop is probably the play’s most famous character. Her name comes from the French phrase mal-à- propos, meaning “ill-suited” or “inappropriate.” Eager for social acceptance, Mrs. Malaprop typically employs grand vocabulary, but in a way that shows she is not quite sure what the words she uses actually mean. A comical character who dominates the stage whenever she is present but very easily swayed with flattery. She is determined for her ward Lydia to marry well but completely unaware she is being played and manipulated by Lydia’s maid Lucy and Captain Jack. (Upper-class British or neutral accent preferred) Sir Anthony Absolute (stage age 40s – 70s) Sir Anthony Absolute is impulsive, opinionated, irritable, and tyrannical. He is chronically given to overstatement, and he harbors all sorts of prejudices, the worst being his chauvinism. He suffers from gout, and believing he is seriously ailing, he has made plans to set his son up for marriage with a woman of his choosing, who happens to be the heiress Lydia Languish, and gift his son an estate. (Upper-class British or neutral accent preferred) Faulkland (stage age 20s/30s) Faulkland is Captain Jack’s friend, who is in love with Julia Melville, Lydia’s cousin. He is a man who cannot get out of his own way, and is prone to self-pity and chronically jealous. He cannot seem to restrain his fits of uncertainty and anxiety, creating obstacles where there are none. (Upper-class British or neutral accent preferred) Julia Melville (stage age 20s/30s) Cousin to Lydia, Julia has a gentle spirit and is kind and warm hearted to all. She is the only character in the play that does not dissemble or fantasize curiously about love and romance. Despite her suitor Faulkland's insecurity and lack of self-esteem, she remains fiercely loyal to him. She is patient with his many outbursts of jealousy, and always remains patient and longsuffering with all. (Upper-class British or neutral accent preferred) Bob Acres (stage age 20s – 40s) Bob Acres, an affable and quirky country squire who is keen to catch the attention of Lydia Languish. Completely out of his depth in the romance stakes, he tries desperately to dress in the latest fashion of the day with hilarious results. When he learns of Ensign Beverley wooing Lydia, he challenges him to a to a duel, completely unaware that Beverley is in fact his friend Jack. As time for the duel draws near, he becomes increasingly terrified of what he must face and deeply regrets his impulsive decision. (North or south British country accent preferred) Sir Lucius O’Trigger (stage age 30s – 50s) Sir Lucius O’Trigger, a brash Irish Baronet who is hoodwinked by the maid Lucy into believing that he is sending secret love letters to Lydia when they are in fact going to her guardian, Aunt Mrs Malaprop. He also challenges Jack to a duel, believing that Lydia loves him not Beverley from the letters he receives back from Mrs Malaprop. (Irish accent preferable) Lucy (stage age 18 – 50s) Lucy is Lydia's conniving maid. Pulling the wool over everyone’s eyes, she pretends to be a naive working-class maid who knows nothing of what is going on around her. When in fact she is fleecing everyone for bribes to keep their secrets and is actively manipulating everyone for her own gain. Lucy is a fun character who has a zest for life and intends to make the most of the opportunities that arise around her to further her financial gain. She resents the attitudes her so called ‘superiors’ have towards her and her fellow servants, and she intends to have the last laugh. (Cockney or British Southwest country accent preferred) Maid to Mrs Malaprop (stage age 18 – 50s) A deeply sarcastic character, who enjoys pointing out to everyone the absurdity of her mistress vocabulary. Like Lucy, she resents the fact that she is treated by her employers as if she is stupid and yet is far more informed and intelligent than her mistress. (Cockney or British Northern accent preferred) Mr Fayg (stage age 18 – 50s) Captain Jack Absolutes servant and right-hand man in creating the deception that Jack is Ensign Beverley. He is fiercely loyal to his master Captain Jack and enjoys weaving webs of deception around the other characters in the play. He is quick witted and intelligent and works hard to solve any problems that might get in the way of the captain’s plans. (British working-class accent or neutral preferred) David (stage age 18 – 30s) A kind-hearted and honest servant to Bob Acres. He does his best to serve his Bob Acres well and does not wish to hurt his feelings with too much honesty about Bob’s new fashion sense. David was born and grew up in the country, so he finds himself out of his depth in the city. He becomes very overwhelmed at the thought of violence and imagines the worst when he hears his master is to fight a duel. (British working-class accent or neutral preferred) Thomas, a Coachman (stage age 18 – 50s) A servant to Jacks father Sir Anthony Absolute. Honest and loyal, Thomas works hard for his employer and has a natural curiosity for life. This is his first trip to the big city, and he is anxious to fit in with the city lifestyle. (British working-class accent or neutral preferred) Ensemble: Non-speaking roles (stage age 18 – 70s) The Citizens of Bath, visiting gentry to the Roman baths, and house staff. Rehearsals: * Monday and Wednesday evenings (when actors are called) from 7:30pm – 9:30pm, beginning on Monday 5 May. • Saturday 28 June = Boot Camp rehearsal 1:30pm – 9:30pm • Saturday 19 July = Boot Camp rehearsal 1:30pm – 9:30pm • Saturday 2 August = Boot Camp rehearsal 1:30pm – 9:30pm • Production Week evening rehearsals = Monday 4 and Wednesday 6 August Performances: Thursday 7 August at 7:30pm Friday 8 August at 7:30pm Saturday 9 August at 7:30pm Venue: Tyndale Theatre 50 Fern Grove Boulevard Salisbury East Information Night: Tuesday 8 April at 7:30pm. Auditions: Monday 28 & Tuesday 29 April from 7pm. There potentially be extra call backs on Wednesday 30 April, Venue: Tyndale Theatre 50 Fern Grove Boulevard Salisbury East More Information: Contact Leah Gauthier on 0421841643 or email fifthbusinesstheatrecompany@tyndale.sa.edu.au