Auditions for “The Viewing Room” - A comedy by Mark Smith

The Viewing Room
A black comedy by Mark Smith
Directed by Ian Milnes
Season: July 10-31

Auditions will be held on Saturday 15th May 2021 at the theatre between 1.00 pm and 4.00 pm in 10-minute intervals. Please contact the director to book a time. The script is available from the office (info@hlt.org.nz) or by contacting the director.

Set in the viewing room of a middle American funeral parlour, Chester (recently deceased) is sent back to face his family. He thinks he’s been more than adequate as a father and husband. The family have other ideas.

Whilst this is a comedy, it needs to be played very straight and not purely for laughs (true of every comedy, really). For example, the character Matthew is very sarcastic and we need to be able to see/feel the pain hidden behind the sarcasm. Similarly with the character of Florence, her confusion needs to be sensitively played. It’s still a comedy though, so excellent comic timing is still required!

Standard American accents, please.

I’m looking for actors who work collaboratively during the rehearsal process and are happy to think about movement and space without clear stage directions in the script. The family relationships must feel real and dynamic.

The character ages are guides. The important thing is to get the age relativity between the characters.

Ian Milnes
0279 376 832 or ian.milnes@outlook.com

The characters:
Dumbrosky family (in age order)
Chester. 80s, recently deceased father, ex-navy, almost obsessively frugal during his life. NOTE: The actor will be on stage for the entire play and must not be claustrophobic, as they spend a lot of time in a coffin – with the lid closed for a short time.
Florence. 70s, recently widowed mother, ditzy, prone to malapropisms, traditionalist who is now beginning to think about her “freedom”.
Chet Jr. 50s, estranged eldest child, musician, stubborn.
Steven 50s, ex-athlete, a little arrogant
Patti. 40s, nurse, quite forgiving
Matthew 40s, sarcastic, angsty, ex-navy. NOTE: The actor is on stage for the entire play.
Debby. 40s, claims to be clairvoyant, outspoken

Funeral director
Jay 40s – 60s, played by male or female, solemn and good at their job, cannot see Chester.

Audition pieces:
Jay/Matthew/Chester pgs 3-6
Chester/Matthew pgs 9-11
Patti/Chester pgs 57-60
Debby/Chester pgs 60-62
Matthew/Chester pgs 62-65
Florence/Chester pgs 68-72
Chet Jr./Chester pgs 84-87
Steven/Chester pgs 55-57

I will also potentially look at the clairvoyance scene for Debby around pg 27.