OPEN CALL AUDITIONS
Join the City of Fairfax Theatre Company's spring production of The Importance of Being Earnest, directed by Amanda C. Herman. All roles are open for the satirical comedy, known as Oscar Wilde's masterpiece.
Auditions
Saturday, Jan 28 5:00-8:00pm
Monday, Jan 30 from 7:30pm-10:00pm
Callbacks
If needed, callbacks will be held Saturday, February 4 between 4pm-10pm - or - Sunday, Feb 5 between 4pm-10pm
Auditions will be at Truro Church, 10520 Main Street, Fairfax, VA 22032.
Follow the yellow CFTC signs upon arrival.
Please bring your headshot and resume, and prepare a 1 minute monologue.
This is a community theatre production; roles are unpaid.
Questions? email fairfaxcitytheatre@gmail.com
The production will play at the Old Town Hall in Fairfax, VA April 27-May 7, 2017.
Rehearsals will begin in late February.
Characters and Age Ranges (must be 18 to audition)
John Worthing, J.P. (Jack/Ernest) 30s- early 40s—Known as Ernest in London and in love with Gwendolyn.
Known as Jack in the country where Cecily is his ward
Algernon Moncrieff 30s—Jack’s friend who believes he is Ernest and Gwendolyn’s cousin
Gwendolyn Fairfax 20s-early 30s—Algernon’s cousin and in love with “Ernest” aka Jack
Cecily Cardew 18-late 20s—Jack’s ward who lives in the country. She is granddaughter of the man who
found Jack as an orphaned baby and adopted him
Lady Bracknell 40s-50s—Gwendolyn’s mother and Algernon’s aunt who wants to ensure her daughter
marries well. She embodies the British aristocracy.
Miss Prism 40s-50s—Cecily’s governess
Rev. Canon Chausuble, D.D. 50s-60s—the Rector on Jack’s country estate
Lane 20s+—Algernon’s servant (also plays Merriman)
Merriman 20s+—Jack’s butler (also plays Lane)
Summary
From Samuel French: “Algernon Moncrieff and Jack Worthing have one thing in common: they’re liars. Algy, a man who resides in London goes to the country to check on his invalid friend, Bunbury. Jack, who resides in the country goes to London to help out his wayward brother, Ernest. Algy’s Bunbury was created so he could escape dinner parties with his aunt, Lady Bracknell, whereas Jack’s creation of Ernest is a persona he takes on when he comes into the city to visit Gwendolen, Lady Bracknell’s daughter. Jack desperately wants to marry Gwendolen and she wants to marry Jack under the guise of Ernest but Lady Bracknell rejects it because Jack’s origins are a mystery; he was orphaned from birth. Algy learns Jack has a ward, Cecily, and decides to go to the country posing as Ernest. Cecily, a young idealistic girl, falls for Algy, also under the guise of Ernest. Jack returns, shocked to see Algy. Then Gwendolen arrives meeting Cecily. The two talk about their engagements to Ernest Worthing, the confusion is cleared when both men are revealed. In order to redeem themselves, they vow to be christened with the name Ernest. Lady Bracknell comes in search of her daughter, refusing to give her consent to the marriage of her and Jack. Ultimately it is revealed that Jack’s mother was Lady Bracknell’s sister, making the two men brothers. And the final reveal: Jack’s birth name was Ernest. Despite the Deus ex Machina of Jack’s birth, Wilde accomplishes a brilliant commentary on how society judges based off appearance. It’s a shallow world they live in until money is mentioned or coming from a noble bloodline. Wilde’s approach is similar to that of restoration comedy, with a hearty lesson learned at the end: “I’ve now realized for the first time in my life the vital Importance of Being Earnest.”
MORE INFO AT www.fairfaxcitytheatre.org
