September 7, 2018 ALL

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Auditions for Black Comedy, a British Farce

The Tim Russert Department of Communication and Theatre announce auditions for “Black Comedy” by Peter Shaffer, directed by Martin Friedman, Ph.D.
Dates: Wednesday, September 12, 7-9 p.m. and Thursday, September 13, 4-7 p.m. in Marinello Little Theatre, LSC.

The play is written to be staged under a reversed lighting scheme: the play opens on a darkened stage. A few minutes into the show there is a short circuit, and the stage is illuminated to reveal the characters in a “blackout.” On the few occasions when matches, lighters, or torches are lit, the lights grow dimmer. The title of the play is a pun.

Brindsley Miller, a young sculptor, and his debutante fiancée Carol Melkett have borrowed some expensive, antique furniture from his neighbor Harold’s flat without his permission in order to impress an elderly millionaire art collector coming to view Brindsley’s work, and Carol’s father Colonel Melkett. When the power fails, Harold returns early, and Brindsley’s ex-mistress Clea shows up unexpectedly, things slide into disaster for him.

THIS IS ONE FUNNY PLAY!

Characters

Brindsley Miller (early 20’s). A sculptor. Intelligent, handsome and quite unsure of himself.

Carol Melkett (late teens, early 20’s). Brindsley’s fiancée. Very spoiled, very silly. She is one weird gal.

Miss Furnival (much older than Brindsley and Carol). Prissy and refined. A middle-class spinster. Clad in a blouse and skirt, her hair is in a bun, her voices is in a bun and she is very repressed.

Colonel Melkett (is the father of Carol). Carol’s commanding father. Brisk, barky, yet there are moments when he is one scary dude; usually when he is quiet. He is a suspicious man by nature.

Harold Gorringe (Late 20’s). The bachelor owner of an antique-china shop and Brindsley’s neighbor. A specialist in emotional blackmail. He can become hysterical when slighted or rejected.

Schuppanzigh (A German refugee). He is an entirely happy man, delighted to be in England.

Clea (early 20’s). Brindsley’s ex-girlfriend. Dazzling, emotional, bright and mischievous.

George Bamberger (an elderly millionaire art collector).

For more information either email Martin Friedman at: Martinfriedman98@gmail.com or mfriedman@jcu.edu, or call 216.233.5441. You can also email Karen Gygli at kgygli@jcu.edu, or call 216.397.4191.