Audition Notice for The Importance of Being Earnest

This witty and buoyant comedy of manners is brilliantly plotted from its effervescent first act to its hilarious finale. Men-about-town, John Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff pursue fair ladies Gwendolen Fairfax and Cecily Cardew. Matters are complicated by the imaginary characters invented by both men to cover their on-the-sly activities. The Importanceof Being Earnest is a masterpiece of high comedy, sparkling with provocative observations.

Directed by Heather Oberlander

Auditions are open to those ages 16 and up and may be double cast at the discretion of the Director.

Auditions will be held on Tuesday Dec 9th and Thursday Dec 11th from 7:00 pm-9:00 pm. Callbacks will be held on Saturday December 13th by invitation only.

The Director would like to see a comedic monologue, but will have something for auditioners to read instead if they would prefer.

Performances will be February 13 - March 7, every Friday, Saturday, and Monday at 7:30 pm as well as a matinee on February 28.

Character Descriptions:
John (Jack/Ernest) Worthing: (male, 25-45) A seemingly responsible and respectable young man who leads a double life; he has created an imaginary brother, but really an alter ego (Ernest) to maintain his country respectability for the sake of his young ward Cecily; Jack has fallen in love with Gwendolyn and the issue of his ‘name’ creates havoc

Algernon Moncrieff: (male, 25-40) A wealthy charming, and idle playboy of sorts and Jack’s best friend; Algernon is brilliant, witty, selfish, amoral, and given to making delightful but often contradictory pronouncements

Gwendolyn Fairfax: (female, 20-35) A model of high fashion and society; Gwendolyn speaks with authority on matters of taste and morality; she is sophisticated, intellectual, cosmopolitan, and utterly pretentious; Gwendolyn is fixated on the name Ernest and says she will not marry a man without that name

Lady Bracknell: (Female, 45+) The wealthy matriarch of the family; Algernon’s snobbish, mercenary, and domineering aunt and Gwendolyn’s mother; Lady Bracknell married well, and her primary goal in life is to see her daughter do the same; she is cunning, narrow-minded, and authoritarian

Cecily Cardew: (female, 18-25) Jack’s ward; Cecily is probably the most realistic character in the play; like Gwendolyn, she is obsessed with the name Ernest, but she is even more intrigued by the idea of wickedness; Cecily is in love with the fictional Ernest and has invented an elaborate romance and courtship with him

Miss Prism: (female, 40+) Cecily’s governess; Miss Prism is an endless source of pedantic clichés; she highly approves of Jack’s presumed respectability and harshly criticizes his “unfortunate” brother; Miss Prism seems to have a softer side as she entertains romantic feelings for Dr. Chasuble

Rev. Canon Chasuble: (male, 50+) The rector on Jack’s estate; Dr. Chasuble entertains secret romantic feelings for Miss Prism

Lane: (male/female, any age) Algernon’s manservant

Merriman: (male/female, any age) The butler at Jack’s Manor House

Post expires at 12:00am on Sunday December 14th, 2014