Black Comedy
by Peter Schaffer
Directed by Pamela Whalan

Season: 27th November - 12th December 2010
Preview night 26th November

Friday and Saturday nights at 8pm
Sunday matinée at 4.30pm

READING

There will be a reading of Black Comedy at the Genesian Theatre on Tuesday 24 August at 7.00 p.m. It is a lighthearted comedy set in London in the Swinging Sixties. There are roles for three women and five men, but of course at a play reading neither age nor gender guarantees that you will be reading a role for which you might audition. The reading provides a chance to get to know the play and have some fun. So come and get acquainted with one of Peter Schaffer's early plays.

AUDITIONS

Auditions will be held for Black Comedy on Tuesday 31 August at the Genesian Theatre from 5.00 p.m. onwards. You will need to book a time slot by phoning Pamela Whalan on (02) 4926 1517 after the 14 August. If you phone before that date you will have to shout because I will be in Perth until that day. For your audition I will ask you to read from the play but I also want you to bring a prepared audition piece of approximately 1 minute that can be from anywhere.
The roles available are:

Brindsley: a struggling young sculptor

Carol: his pretty young girlfriend - not very bright

Miss Furnival: a prim lady, daughter of a Baptist minister. She lives in the upstairs flat and can be any age from 30 to 100.

Colonel Melkett: he is Carol's father - a fierce army officer of the old school. Carol probably gets her brains from him. He is somewhere between 45 and 60.

Harold: the neighbour from across the hall. He tends to be possessive and hysterical. He is about 30.

Clea: the ex-girlfriend - intelligent bohemian with an acid tongue. The role was created by Maggie Smith so the actor has something to live up to here! She is in her 20s and glamorous.

Schuppanzigh: a middle aged German who works for the London Electricity Board.

Bamberger: a middle aged German millionaire.

This play is quite physically demanding as characters move furniture, get tangled in phone cords, fall off chairs, climb on tables, bang into each other etc. so, if your arthritis is worrying you, think twice. Both Schuppanzigh and Bamberger spend some time below the stage as the trapdoor is used.