Audition Info for
Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice
adapted by Kate Hamill
Directed by Karyn Eves
Auditions: November 24 & 26 @ 7pm
First Congregational Church, 199 Valley Street, Willimantic
WHO: People aged 16 and over, of all ethnicities, genders, and abilities are encouraged to audition.
From Dramatists Play Service: This isn’t your grandmother’s Austen! Bold, surprising, boisterous, and timely, this P&P for a new era explores the absurdities and thrills of finding your perfect (or imperfect) match in life. The outspoken Lizzy Bennet is determined to never marry, despite mounting pressure from society. But can she resist love, especially when that vaguely handsome, mildly amusing, and impossibly aggravating Mr. Darcy keeps popping up at every turn?! Literature’s greatest tale of latent love has never felt so theatrical, or so full of life than it does in this effervescent adaptation. Because what turns us into greater fools…that the high-stakes game of love?
Logistics
This is a fast-paced adaptation that emphasizes the critique on manners and lays into the sexual innuendos. The marriage market is seen as a battle or boxing match, but much of the dialogue is still pulled directly from the novel.
Rehearsals will start after Thanksgiving and continue through December and January. Character prep will be high priority as the play requires in-depth familiarity with the novel.
The show dates are February 7, 8, 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, & 22, 2025.
Casting will be fluid and flexible based on availability and interest of actors. Can be cast with as many as 14 actors or as few as 8 actors with characters gender-bending and actors doubling for supporting roles. 3 roles are female and are marked with (F). All others can be any gender or genderless. Lead roles CANNOT be combined with any other role.
Audition Prep
Perform a one-minute comic monologue of your choice from any time period/play. Characters can be of all genders. You may attempt an English dialect in your audition if you are comfortable with it, but you do not need to.
We will also be doing cold readings of sides from the show; auditioners may also be asked to play a group improv game or something similar.
Lead Roles
Lizzy (F): 20s-30s
A year or two younger than Jane. Clever, spirited; can be sharp-tongued. Gets flustered, which makes her klutzy. Prides herself on good judgment. Not especially beautiful. Very very scared of marriage, after absorbing the lessons of her parents' marriage.
Darcy: 20s-30s
One of the richest men in England. Too proper for his own good; awkward in most social contexts. Prides himself on self-control and good judgment.
Supporting Roles
Mr Bennet: 40s-60s
The patriarch of the Bennet family. Finds amusement in absurdity; often looks for respectable escape from the chaos of his family life. Can be somewhat apathetic; probably a bit depressed, under everything. Enjoys antagonizing. Disappointed in marriage.
Mrs Bennet (F): 40s-60s
The matriarch of the Bennet family. Mostly a silly woman, of mean understanding and variable temper.
Hypochondriac; when she's upset, she fancies that she's dying. The business of her life is to get her daughters married. She traumatizes her family with some regularity.
Jane Bennet: 20s-30s
The eldest and most beautiful Bennet daughter. Kind, idealistic, diffident. Always tries to do the right thing.
Lydia Bennet: 20s
The youngest Bennet. Lively, prone to imitating others' behavior and eavesdropping.
Bingley: 20s-30s
Loves the world and the world loves him. Mr. Darcy's particular friend. Almost literally a dog.
Collins: 20s-30s
A pedantic, obtuse man. The original mansplainer. Rector to Lady Catherine.
Charlotte Lucas: 20s-30s
Same age as Lizzy. A practical girl with a good sense of humor. May be doubled with Mr. Bennet.
Wickham: 20s-30s
An unfairly handsome and charming gentleman. Probably a sociopath. Raised with Darcy.
Caroline Bingley: 20s-30s
A very rich, very beautiful young woman. Fancies herself witty.
Lady Catherine (F): 50s-70s
Patrician Caesar-meets-drill sergeant.
Miss de Bourgh: 20s
Lady Catherine's daughter; a gremlin. Probably allergic to the sun. Underneath all her veils, she may be covered in scales.
Mary: any age
The third Bennet girl. Violent and dark undertones; prone to pedanticism and sulking. A dark goth Bronte character trapped in an Austen world. Coughs to get attention, or to make a point; may fancy that she is dying. In the play, Mary is basically a walking ghost -- her sudden appearance onstage startles the actors. Think creepy girl from The Ring.
Videos
