"The Importance of Being Earnest" Audition for the Theater
"The Importance of Being Earnest" play needs actors. ONLY LOCAL TALENT WILL BE CONSIDERED. See more info below. About the project: SYNOPSIS: The Importance of Being Earnest is a comedy of manners written by Oscar Wilde in 1895, which satirizes the hypocrisy and absurdity of Victorian society. It follows two bachelors named Jack and Algernon, who both take on the persona of a fictional man named Ernest. Jack as Ernest has fallen in love with Algernon’s cousin, Gwendolyn, and Algernon as Ernest has fallen in love with Jack’s ward, Cecily. This causes a series of misunderstandings when the four of them all end up at Jack’s country house, along with Gwendolyn’s disapproving and overbearing mother. Rate: Roles are non-paid, but cast does get an appreciation stipend that consists of concession sales, donations, and tip share. Additional info: Note: All characters will speak with a British accent. Read thru for will take place in early October and production will hold two VIRTUAL rehearsals in November and December. In-person rehearsals will begin in January. Performances: March 20-29. If you are interested, please apply.
9 roles
Jack is a respected member of upper-class society who lives in the country. He was found as a baby and raised by a wealthy man, so he is unaware of his lineage. He presents himself as serious, straightforward, and morally upright, but he secretly leads a double life to occasionally escape his responsibilities and let loose in the city. He is Cecily’s guardian, and his city persona, Ernest, has become close friends with Algernon and has fallen in love with Gwendolyn.
Algernon lives for pleasure. He is extravagant, unromantic, and rarely serious. He is aware of the hypocrisy of his society and therefore has a cynical sense of humor. However, he still uses his status to his advantage in order to remain lazy and indulgent. He is Lady Bracknell’s nephew and Gwendolyn’s cousin. He is a close friend to Jack’s city persona, Ernest, and takes on this persona to woo Cecily.
Gwendolyn is a high class, aristocratic young woman. She is proper, opinionated and slightly rebellious. Though she endorses many of the Victorian ideals of how to behave in society, she often acts on her emotions and isn’t shy about perusing what she wants. She is Lady Bracknell’s daughter and Algernon’s cousin. She is in love with Jack’s city persona, Ernest.
Cecily lives in the country and is not as sophisticated or proper as the other characters. She is genuine, naive, and a bit sheltered from the world. She has a vivid imagination and takes her fictional life much more seriously than her real life. She is Jack’s ward and Miss Prism’s student and is in love with the fictional Ernest.
Middle aged. Lady Bracknell is an upper-class aristocrat who is extremely concerned with appearances and with conforming to societal expectations. She is controlling, snobbish, and unsympathetic, and values wealth and status above all else. She is Gwendolyn’s mother and Algernon’s aunt.
Middle aged. Miss Prism is of lower class than the other characters. She is prudish, judgmental, and modest on the surface, often harping on the importance of morality. However, her internal emotions often break through, despite her best efforts. She has a mysterious past that haunts her. She is Cecily’s governess and has a crush on Dr. Chasuble.
Middle aged or older. Dr. Chasuble is a Reverend in the church and lives in the country. He wants to be seen as the most intelligent, kind, and moral person in the room, but he never really takes action to earn those distinctions. He has a crush on Miss Prism.
Lane is Algernon’s servant. He is cynical and has a very dry wit. He tends to engage in clever banter with Algernon.
Merriman is Jack’s servant. He is much more to the point and serious, mirroring Jack’s personality.
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