What the Butler Saw
Open auditions for What the Butler Saw by Joe Orton in the lobby of the theatre for the show opening Friday, January 20 and playing Friday, Saturday & Sunday through February 19. Director Keith A. Anderson. Producers Mary Anderson & Dorothy Courtney.
This classic farce by Joe Orton has it all: slapstick action, lost clothing, mistaken identities, fast entrances and exits, surprise plotlines and, above all, Orton's witty dialogue as he presents a comic look at 1960’s attitudes toward sex and mental health.
What the Butler Saw takes place in the exclusive, private mental health clinic of Dr. Prentice who is attempting to seduce his attractive prospective secretary when his wife enters the consulting area, interrupting his sordid intentions and triggering nonstop action and comic problems for the doctor and his other unexpected guests including a bell hop, a London bobby, and a fellow psychiatrist conducting an inspection of the clinic.
Open auditions. No appointment necessary. Plan to read from script. Roles are available for four men ranging in ages 18 – late 50s and two women ranging in ages 18 – 40ish. Actors should come dressed comfortably to move and will read from the script. Bring resume and headshot to audition. (NOTE: This is a non-profit community theatre with all volunteer positions for both acting and production work. We are also looking for an assistant director, rehearsal & production stage manager, and light/sound operator for the show. Email Mary Anderson if you are interested in behind the scenes positions.)
This six-character farce about a group of sexually repressed upper class Brits in 1960s London has the following roles: Dr. Prentice (Supporting): Male, late 30s to early 40s--urbane psychiatrist who uses his position of power and pseudo-psychoanalysis as a means of sexual conquest. Dr. Rance (Supporting): Male, late 30s to 50s. Arrogant psychiatrist and government functionary who enters a den of sexual intrigue and lunacy and unwittingly adds to the mayhem. Mrs. Prentice (Supporting): Female, 30s to early 40s. Prentice’s sexually repressed wife who is influenced by the permissive atmosphere she encounters; must be comfortable wearing slip onstage since her dress was stolen. Geraldine Barclay (Supporting): Female, must play 18-22.Naive secretarial candidate; must be comfortable wearing only bra and panties or a teddy. Nicholas Beckett (Supporting): Male, must play 18-22. Over-sexed bellhop from the local hotel who plays willingly into the decadent games and then attempts blackmail; must be comfortable wearing only boxers or briefs. Sergeant Match (Supporting): Male, must play 30-50ish. Dogged but patient police constable who gets caught up in the “patient must be examined” antics; must be comfortable wearing only boxers with undershirt.
Rehearsals will generally be 7-10 PM on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday with Wednesday rehearsal added tech week. Final dress rehearsal/preview will be Thursday, January 19 at 8 PM. Although we will take time off for Christmas and New Year holidays, we will have some rehearsals as schedules permit. We will work around reasonable holiday conflicts.
For further information, to get audition sides, or to email resume and headshot in advance, please contact: Producer Mary Anderson 619-890-9882 or [email protected].
NOTE: This play contains adult subject matter & may not be suitable for early teens & younger audiences.