Audition Listings

On Golden Pond, Scarborogh Players

On Golden Pond
by Ernest Thompson
Produced by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service
Directed by Joseph van Veen

SHOW DATES: September 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 2017
All shows at 8 p.m. except September 10, 17, and 23 at 2 p.m.

The Play: On Golden Pond is the love story of Ethel and Norman Thayer, a couple in their twilight years who are spending their 48th summer at their cottage. The play explores their relationship as they face the challenges of aging. When their only child and daughter Chelsea visits with her fiancée Bill Ray and his teenage son, Billy Jr, the play explores a challenging father-daughter relationship. Billy Jr. spends the summer with the Thayer’s and quickly becomes the "grandchild" as Norman takes his charge fishing and learns a thing or two about teenagers. As the summer fades, Norman and Ethel are brought closer together by the incidence of a mild heart attack.

Characters: 
Ages listed reflect how the character should appear onstage, not necessarily the age of the actor.  All ethnicities are welcome.

1. Norman Thayer, Jr. – male, mid-late 70’s, retired English professor
Youthful for his age but showing signs of slowing down; a touch of arthritis, heart palpitations and a declining memory. He can be a charming gentleman one minute and a cantankerous curmudgeon the next. He has a dry sharp wit and frequently weaves confusing mental circles around others in a game of one-upmanship. He is very much in love with Ethel.

2. Ethel Thayer – female, mid-late 60’s, Norman’s wife of 48 years
In many ways, Ethel is Norman’s opposite … and opposites attract. Ethel is a spritely, active woman who loves her husband completely and who is in love with simply being alive. She is energetic and has an inner and outer strength. She has aged extremely well. She doesn’t fall prey to Norman’s games and knows how to manage Norman’s moods and run interference when he is less than charming with others.

3. Charlie Martin – male, 40’s, the local mailman
Charlie grew up on Golden Pond and has been delivering the mail by boat since his youth. He has an honest warmth and an unpolished charm. He has an infectious laugh and can be boisterous and loud. He is the kind of person everyone loves to invite in for tea and cookies. He is gregarious and familiar. He is a bachelor, never married, and has had a life-long crush on Chelsea.
Actors auditioning for the role of Charlie Martin, a Maine (or east coast) accent would be desirable.

4. Chelsea Thayer Wayne – female 40’s, Norman and Ethel’s daughter, divorcee
Chelsea is Ethel and Norman’s only child. Like her father, she has a dry sense of humour, although not as acerbic as Norman. She is pretty and wears little make-up. Chelsea is physically fit but not necessarily athletic. Chelsea struggles to please Norman and is still seeking her father’s approval and dealing with the lack of closeness between them. She is engaged to Bill Ray, whom she brings to meet her paren'ts.

5. Bill Ray – male, 40’s, divorced, dentist
Chelsea’s fiancée and Billy’s father. Bill is a city boy. He is attractive, confident and well dressed, he is definitely not the outdoors type and out of his element in the country. He tends to be serious but has a hidden sense of humour. He falls prey to Norman’s mind-games but when he realizes what Norman is up to he pulls the plug and Norman finds out that Bill is no pushover.

6. Billy Ray – male, 14 years of age, son of Bill Ray
On the surface, Billy Ray is a typical awkward moody teenager but beneath his foul-mouthed exterior is a lonely and misunderstood young boy. Billy spends a month with Norman and Ethel on Golden Pond. His posture is poor and Norman has to remind him not to slouch. Norman takes Billy under his wing and the two quickly become friends. Billy comes out of his introverted shell and Norman appears to be healthier and more positive.
Actors auditioning for the role of Billy Ray should be comfortable swearing.

AUDITION DATES:
Sunday, May 28, 2017 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Monday, May 29, 2017 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
CALLBACKS: (IF NEEDED) Wednesday, May 31 from 7:30 p.m.- 10:30 p.m.
(CALLBACKS ONLY: PLEASE BE PREPARED TO BE AVAILABLE FOR THE FULL 3 HOURS)

Requirements: Please prepare a short monologue – less than 90 seconds – something you love and know well off book.  You will be re-directed. You may also be asked to do a cold reading from the play. Please read the play. A copy of the play will be on hold at the 5th floor Audio Desk, Toronto Reference Library. Please bring photo (photocopy will do) and resume.

Booking Your Audition
Auditions must be booked in advance
TO REQUEST AN AUDITION, SEND AN E-MAIL TO audition4sp@gmail.com
OR by phone (416) 439-1104  – Please leave your name & number VERY clearly.
By email or telephone please indicate your preferred audition date and time(s).
Please note: Email is the most efficient way to book an audition
Auditions are booked in 10 minute slots. Please indicate the role(s) in which you are interested.

Auditions and Rehearsals will be held at 780 Birchmount, Unit 5 (West side of Birchmount, south of Eglinton, beside the Low Carb Food Outlet. TTC accessible by #17 Bus from Warden Station or any Eglinton West bus from Kennedy Station). 

Very Important: Final Rehearsals are required over the September Labour Day Long Weekend
Some rehearsals and all performances are at Scarborough Village Theatre, 3600 Kingston Road (at Markham Road).
Most Rehearsals will be held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 7:30 – 10:30 p.m. and Sundays, 1:00 – 5 p.m.
First read-through will be Sunday, June 11 at 7:00 p.m. In the beginning, the first few rehearsals will require some flexibility from the cast until June 18 when the other show moves out of the unit. After that, the Tues/Thurs/Sunday afternoon schedule will go into go into effect.

Additional rehearsals may be added as we move closer to the production opening.  You will be asked to please list ANY potential conflicts from June 11 to September 23 on your audition forms.

Scarborough Players is an inclusive community theatre company and encourages all interested individuals from all back grounds to audition. Those auditioning must be Non-Equity performers and understand that this is a non-paying production.
We do not enter into any contracts or agreements with CAEA or ACTRA.