The Busie Body

 

Sunday April 13 at 7:00 P.M.

Auditions consist of cold readings from the script.

 

Written by Susanna Centlivre
Directed by Carol Youmans
 

All auditions will be held at our Annex

2132 Renard Court, Annapolis, MD

Directions to the Annex
 

The show runs  –  June 6 - 8, 2008
with performances Thursdays through Sundays

Casting Information:

Please note: Colonial Players is an all volunteer organization
All roles are open and non-paying


 

Colonial Players needs male actors ages 18 - 50 for this lively 18c comedy. Production dates are June 5 - 8. These roles are meaty and fun! Complete with swords and feathers! This light-hearted comedy was first presented in England in 1709, the year after Annapolis was granted a charter from Queen Anne to incorporate the City government in December of 1708. Colonial Players will present it as part of the City wide celebration of the Charter’s 300th Anniversary on June 6, 7th and 8th.

 

 The Busie Body is a witty comedy of manners about two young women who seek to marry young men of their choice despite the obstacles of their parents and guardians who have plans of their own for the girl’s matches. The play will be presented in period costume.  All roles are open. Colonial Players welcomes actors of all backgrounds and skill levels.

Sir George Airy (20) A charming gentleman in love with Miranda

Charles (20) A Gentleman, friend of Sir George, son of Sr. Francis Gripe, in love with Isabinda

Sir Francis Gripe (50 – 60)  Miserly, self-deluding Guardian to Miranda and Marplot

Marplot (20 – 40)  A silly Fellow, eager to know everybody’s business, often spoils everything he undertakes without meaning to. Physical comedian

Whisper (40 – 60) Servant to Sir Charles

Everywhere (40-60) Servant and assistant

Miranda, (17 – 20) very witty and vivacious, in love with Sir George but pretending to be in love

 with Sir Francis, her guardian

Isabinda (17 – 20) dominated by her mother, in love with Charles, but promised to a Spaniard

Lady Jealousie Traffic (45 – 60) Lived in Spain many years, determined to keep her daughter

                                    veiled and cloistered from the permissive English society she lives in,

                                    until she is safely married to a Spanish nobleman.

Patch (20 – 30)  Isabinda’s servant,  formerly Miranda’s servant

Scentwell (20 – 40)  Servant to Miranda

 

Actors who are auditioning should know that the 18c. comedy of manners was played very broadly with asides to the audience and with characters whose dominant qualities, (wit, graspingness, pride, woe, ineptitude) provided necessary components of the plot. These qualities in the characters were emphasized to move the story along. The characters are not very nuanced or complicated. They are not played with the complicated sub-text and naturalistic levels found in modern drama. Instead they are clotheshorses, their costumes and bearing communicate to the audience who they are. The proud and virtuous will strut, the weasels will whine and move like the grasping weasels they are. The play calls for actors with ease of movement and vocal variety to enhance the comedy.

For more information or access to the script, please contact Carol Youmans at 410-263-5625 or theatreslave@verizon.net