Arsenic and Old Lace
By Joseph Kesserling
Directed by Steve Rowe
Audition 2 Date: Tuesday 7th October 2025, 6:45PM for 7:15PM start
Callbacks if required: 14th October 2025
Location: The Pavilion Theatre, Doran Drive, Castle Hill
The Run
Production run: 26th January 2026 – 21st February 2026
Rehearsal nights: Mondays and Thursdays (including planned breaks break over the Xmas period to accommodate individual needs).
Overview
A fast-moving, farcical black comedy featuring the maniacal, and mostly homicidal, Brewster family. Set in Brooklyn, New York in the 1940s.
Roles Available
- ages of individual characters are fluid and depends on fitting in with the rest of the cast
- a number of the cameo roles may be doubled up and/or performed by Crew members
LEADS:
Mortimer Brewster (M, 30s to early 50s)
A very likable, drama critic, just married to, girl next door, Elaine Harper, Mortimer is on stage for almost the entire play and controls the show. From the discovery of the first body, Mortimer must be electrified and carry this energy through to the end of the show. Comic timing, physical agility and likeability are essential. Some intimacy required which will be treated with the utmost care. .
Abby Brewster (F, 60 – 80 or able to Play age)
A darling lady, and the very model of Victorian charm and grace, who poisons elderly gentlemen, with her sister as an act of charity. She and her sister Martha seem to be the absolute embodiment of the values and polite society of a bygone age. Abby is the more dominant of the two Aunts who are both happy, healthy, lucid, and spry.
Martha Brewster (F, 60 – 80 or able to Play age)
Very sweet, but more submissive than Abby. She and her sister have lived together for many, many years. Always wear a high collar for reasons that become clear in the play.
Elaine Harper (F, mid 25-35 or able to play age)
Mortimer’s new wife and daughter of Rev. Harper. Wily, spunky, sassy and smart. Needs to be agile in displaying a range of emotions from casual happiness / utter bliss to confusion and terror. Some intimacy required which will be treated with the utmost care.
Teddy Brewster (M, mid 30s – late 50s able to play age)
Likeable, kind-hearted but completely insane, believing that he is Theodore Roosevelt. Some physical energy required (charging up a flight of stairs screaming “CHARGE”).
Jonathan Brewster (M, mid 30s – late 50s able to play age)
Jonathan is a psychopath with numerous murders to his credit and no scruples whatsoever. Sinister and creepy with a very short fuse. Make-up/prosthetics required to create a Boris Karloff- like appearance resulting from botched plastic surgery. Ideally needs to be tall in stature to create a commanding physical presence.
Dr Einstein (M, 45-55 years old or able to play age. Would consider alternative genders)
An alcoholic German plastic surgeon. Right hand to Jonathan, Dr. Einstein is mousey and submissive to Jonathan. Einstein should be viewed sympathetically by the audience as a good guy whose life has gone bad.
CAMEOS:
Reverend Dr Harper (M, 50-70 years old or able to play age).
Elaine’s father and local minister. Requires a sense of polish and refinement. Cameo role which could be played by a crew member or doubled with another role)
Officer Brophy (M, Any age. Would consider alternative genders)
Thoroughly likeable neighbourhood police officer. Cameo role which could be played by a crew member or doubled with another role.
Officer Klein (M, Any Age. Would consider alternative genders)
A flatfoot Brooklyn police officer. Cameo role which could be played by a Crew member or doubled with another role.
Officer O’Hara (M, Any Age. Would consider alternative genders)
The quintessential example of an Irish-American police officer: full of life, good natured and played big. A would-be playwright, who is insistent that he shares his plot lines with Mortimer with no idea how annoying he is being. Very funny cameo which could be played by a Crew member or doubled with another role.
Mr Gibbs (M, Any Age. 60+ or able to play age).
An elderly gentleman who wishes to rent a room from the Brewster sisters; and nearly falls victim to the sisters “charity”. He is a little gruff, but he warms up fairly quickly upon being offered a treat he hasn’t had since he was a child. Comic timing required. Cameo role which could be played by a Crew member or doubled with another role.
Lieutenant Rooney (M, 45+ or able to play age).
Officer in charge at the local police precinct with little patience for blunder and mistakes. Loud, decisive and clearly in charge. Cameo role which could be played by a Crew member or doubled with another role.
Mr/Mrs Witherspoon (M,F 45+ or to Play age)
The superintendent of Happy Dale Sanitarium. Mild mannered and kind. Cameo role which could be played by a Crew member or doubled with another role.
The Auditions
No prepared monologues required, however you will need to have read the play prior to audition. To complete an online version of the audition form in advance please click below.
To get a copy of the script and draft production schedule please email me at steve.rowe04@gmail.com
Feel free to call me on 0407 767133 if you have any specific questions.
Steve Rowe
The Graduate
Adapted by Terry Johnson
Directed by Stephen Snars
Audition Date: Tuesday November 18 7.30 for a 7.45 start
Call backs: Possibly Thursday 20 and/or Tuesday 25 November
Location: The Pavilion Theatre, Doran Drive, Castle Hill
The Run
Running from: 27 March – 18 April 2026 with previews Mon 23 and Wed 25 March
Rehearsals: Monday and Thursday nights from 7.30pm plus 1 or 2 Saturdays. Rehearsals are anticipated to commence on Mon 1 Dec with a break for Christmas of at least a couple of weeks.
Synopsis
Benjamin arrives home from college having excelled both as an athlete and a student. His education has left him panicked and uncertain where his life will be going. The dangerously charismatic Mrs Robinson, a predatory friend of the family with few scruples, tempts him into an affair. The weeks roll on until the Robinson’s daughter, Elaine comes home from Berkeley. A darkish comedy set in sunny LA in pre hippy 1964.
Themes
The failure of the American dream; the effect of the Beat Generation;coming of ageand the pressure of family expectations.
The Roles
8 Roles The ages indicate how the actor should appear onstage.
Benjamin Braddock, Our 21 year old college graduate seemingly with the world at his feet. Arrives home and fails to launch. Over thinking, over anxious and over everything his parent’s lifestyle represents. Unfocussed until he meets Elaine.
Mr. Braddock, 40s: Benjamin’s controlling and enthusiastically straight Father.
Mrs. Olive Braddock, 40s: Benjamin’s doting Mum. Often seems shallow but detects that a woman has come into Benjamin’s life. Overjoyed at Ben’s intention to marry.
Mr. Hal Robinson, 40s: A businessman and close friend of Mr Braddock. Oblivious to his wife’s needs. Comically invites Ben to sleep around. Not all that happy when he does.
Mrs. P Robinson, 40s: Former artistic aspirations during college days she traded for a comfortable but unhappy marriage. Alcoholism, and a nihilistic outlook, lead her to seducing Benjamin. She is cool, calculating and even cruel yet amusing and fascinating. Her rejection of social norms mirrors that of Benjamin. Both a predator and a tragic figure.
Elaine Robinson, 20 years old: The Robinson’s daughter, aka ”Peaches”! Sweet, sensitive and emotionally intelligent. Senses a connection with Ben but wants to please her parents.
Hotel Clerk/Priest/Barman/Manager, 25-40s: these roles are fluid
Hotel Assistant/Stripper/Psychiatrist, 25-40s: these roles are fluid
Men and wedding guests are doubled by the company
The Auditions
The Audition will be reading of scenes from the script.
It is expected that auditionees will have read the entire script. It is not exactly the same as the movie, so no Alfa, but it covers the same ground.
I will be looking for natural and truthful portrayals of character so bring your A game! As this is a play about relationships I will be looking for engagement between actors.
US accents (or an attempt thereof) please.
Note This production will include some degree of nudity and bedroom scenes which auditionees will need to be aware of.
Actors wishing to audition for the roles of Benjamin, Elaine, Mrs. Robinson and the stripper will need to contact the director in advance.
For a copy of the script, further info or a general chat
Director Stephen Snars
Email: sjsnars@gmail.com
(m) 0400 832 836
Watch this space for upcoming auditions or better still why not become a member and never miss an audition notice again!