Auditions: The Game's Afoot - Or Holmes for The Holidays

Directed by :Andrew Gordon.

A period comedy by playwright Ken Ludwig
Broadway star William Gillette, famous for his leading role in the play Sherlock, has invited fellow cast members to his Connecticut home for a weekend of revelry. But when one of the guests is stabbed to death, the Christmas festivities in this isolated house quickly become perilous. The hilarity and danger are non-stop in this glittering whodunnit.

Roles
William Gillette (40s): Based on the real-life William Gillette. This character is a dynamic and charming stage actor who has made a fortune from his stage adaptation of Sherlock Holmes, whom he also plays. Recently shot in the arm in a bizarre incident, Gillette is determined to bring his Holmesian skills to solve the case, even if it means investigating his close friends. Must be able to perform both an English and American accent. Must be strong enough to assist carrying a body across stage.

Martha Gillette (60+): Gillette’s mother. A former theatre actress herself, she is both elegant and a little bit dotty, although she never shies away from a fight. Always willing to lob a criticism when necessary, Martha is, all the same, loyal to Gillette and his friends.

Felix (40s): Long-time and close friend of Gillette. A true thespian, he has given his life to the stage, having spent most of his time performing alongside Gillette as his sidekick. Married to Madge. Actor must be able to perform both an English and American accent. Actor must be physically strong enough to carry a body across the stage.

Madge (40s): Like her husband, Felix, is a lifelong theatrical. Wry and outspoken, she's game for anything, but back her into a corner and she will come out swinging. Actor must be able to perform both an English and American accent.

Aggie (20s): Is the ingénue of the company. Good-natured and kind, Aggie has had tragedy in her past, though she seems to have dealt with it well, and even moved on. Recently married to Simon, and they make a charming and wonderful couple. However, this sweet and innocent nature is put to the test with the investigation of murder at hand. Actor must be able to perform both an English and American accent.

Simon (20s): An enthusiastic young man, he is eager to please. A bit of a naïf, Simon can occasionally be overly sensitive. Recently married to Aggie, and they make a charming and wonderful couple. Eager to find success, he is willing to go to extreme lengths for the woman he loves. Actor must be able to perform an Eastern European and American accent. The ability to play a ukulele is advantageous, but not necessary.

Daria Chase (40-50): A theatre critic, she is the evil necessity of the industry. Glamorous and gorgeous, albeit trying a little too hard to stay youthful, she is biting and bitchy, with a pseudo charm. Actor must be comfortable being carried across the stage as well as spending time.

Inspector (30-50): English and eccentric, she is an anomaly of the policing profession of the time. Her detective skills are somewhat aloof and unconventional. By turns, witty and incisive, suddenly lost and dim, she is disarming in her inability to be defined. Always off the mark, and yet never far from the truth, she somehow always gets her man. Actor must be able to perform in an English accent.

About the Director
Andrew Gordon has been involved with theatre for almost 20 years, having acted, written, and directed for the stage. He has been involved with Howick Little Theatre since 2010 and made his directorial debut for the theatre with the premiere of Nathan Hey’s The Operative in 2016 for HLT Studio (of which he is a founding member).

He then went on to direct the successful play The House by the Lake during the 2018 season. Outside Howick Little Theatre, he was assistant director on the Acting Collective’s Persuasion in 2017 alongside director Terry Hooper, as well as writer and director for Dilworth School’s 2015 commemorative play: Legacy: The Story of James and Isabella Dilworth.

For a copy of the script,email info@hlt.org.nz

To book a timeslot or for further information please email the director at andrew.ian.gordon@gmail.com