Audition Listings

Audition Notice – Comic Potential, by Alan Ayckbourn
Directed by Brian Russell

Show dates: November 10-11-12 & 17-18-19, 2022
(Please note there are two performances on November 12th.)

Show times: Evenings 7:30pm. Additional matinee performance on November 12th at 1:30pm

Show Location: Tranzac Main Stage. 292 Brunswick Ave, Toronto (Bloor St. West and Brunswick Ave.)

Audition Date: Thursday August 25th, 2022, 7pm – 10pm, with callbacks arranged if necessary
Auditions will be held at the Tranzac, 292 Brunswick Avenue

Rehearsal Days: Rehearsals are generally held on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, and Sunday afternoons. Technical Rehearsal will be held on Sunday Nov. 6th at 1pm. Dress rehearsals will be held on Tuesday Nov. 8th and Wednesday Nov. 9th at 6:00pm

Please note you MUST be able to make all the dates for the Tech rehearsal, Dress rehearsal and show times to apply for an audition.
Please respond to auditions@nagsplayers.com to indicate your interest in auditioning

About the play
A sensation in London and New York, this is one of the funniest and most inventive plays by Britain's grand master of comedy. Largely set in a television studio in the foreseeable future where actors have been replaced by low-cost androids (known as “actoids”), this hilarious satire and touching romantic comedy tells the story of Adam, an aspiring writer, and their relationship with Jacie Triplethree (JC333), one of the leading “actoids” on an appalling and terribly cliched television soap opera. When Adam discovers that Jacie can not only carry on a conversation but, due to what Jacie calls a fault in their programming, is also able to learn from experience and has a creative imagination, Adam begins putting together a pitch to build a new television series around Jacie. But the studio, including villainess department head Carla, will not hear of it. Adam soon begins falling in love with Jacie and the two of them embark on a quest that takes them into the heart of the city where comedy and tragedy seem to be at every turn. A story filled with both humour and heart, COMIC POTENTIAL explores the notion that if comedy, laughter, and love are what separates humans from machines yet are mostly subjective, does that make it a fault in the human being experiencing it? And can it be taught?

Casting requirements
While some roles have already been cast in our production, many of them still need to be filled. The remaining roles are described below. Please thoroughly read through all of the descriptions when considering auditioning

Characters

Adam Trainsmith (male presenting, age 20-35) Young and naïve, eager and selfless, Adam is a pleasant and affable dreamer with an earnest desire to bring back American cinematic comedy and the antics of their silent comedy heroes. Overwhelmingly enthusiastic at times, nervous and shy but impulsive at others, they are always anxious to do the right thing while also showing signs of tenderness and moments of deep sorrow throughout their mission to make Jacie a star.

Jacie Triplethree (female presenting, age 20-35) Irresistible, young nurse “actoid” Jacie is wide eyed, innocent, and very quick at learning and copying human behaviour, using a back catalogue of all their previous acting characters to guide them. A part that requires an affinity for slapstick and versatility, Jacie also occasionally slips in and out of an array of accents and styles with their delivery being subtle and exquisitely tender at times and deliberately “huge” at others. They switch between these moments, turning them on and off in a snap second with their movements striking a balance between being subtly “mechanical” but also having poise and grace throughout their quest to become more “human”…which leads to farcical results.

Chandler Tate (male presenting, age 40-60) Embittered ex-director of movie comedies now reduced to working on a hospital soap opera, Chandler is caustic, sarcastic, world weary and occasionally belligerent. They have a drinking problem, are quick to anger yet also quick to defuse, first resenting Adam’s presence before becoming grudgingly tolerant of it. Grizzled but with a heart of gold underneath their bitter and tough exterior.

Prim Spring (female presenting, age 25-40) Dependable and efficient TV programmer, Prim is aware of their rights and demands respect, which they don’t always get from Chandler, who they frequently butt heads with, leading to friction and occasional threats of actions for harassment. Prim is able to offer sage advice to Adam and gets pulled into the schemes Adam and Chandler concoct. In a relationship with fellow studio technician Trudi Floote.

Ensemble roles
***This is a play that requires various actors to take on multiple smaller speaking roles of various character types. Three actors will be cast in three roles each:

PERFORMER WITH THREE ROLES (male presenting, age 25-35) – Young Man (Actoid) + Marmion + Man In Dress Shop
    Young Man: Soap opera actoid LJM 54823, reacting with true “soap opera style” stiff upper lip dignity to the bad news about their state. Must be able to “switch on and off” at the direction of the human characters.
    Marmion: Assistant and translator for television studio mogul Lester, they speak for Lester via a
futuristic earpiece. Fastidious but easily flustered when others become confused as to whether they
are speaking for themselves or for Lester.
    Man In Dress Shop: A rich but exasperated customer who has to deal with their high maintenance
girlfriend in both a department store and a hotel restaurant.

PERFORMER WITH THREE ROLES (male presenting, age 35-50) – Doctor / Farmer (Actoid) + Hotel Desk Clerk + Hotel Waiter
    Doctor/Farmer: A soap opera actoid featured in two distinct roles, LM05623 plays the Doctor who delivers bad news in very “soap opera” style, before a glitch causes them to mix up their vowels. They also play the Farmer, a supporting actor in Adam’s dream project. Both of these characters require the performer to be able to “switch on and off” instantaneously on the instructions of the human characters.
    Hotel Desk Clerk: Questions and queries Adam and Jacie with both suspicion and intrigue.
    Hotel Waiter 1: Efficient in preparing tables and drinks in the restaurant eventually revealing a nasty and bigoted side.

PERFORMER WITH THREE ROLES (female presenting, age 35-50) – Mother / Farmer's Wife (Actoid) + Dress Shop Assistant + Prostitute
    Mother/Farmer’s Wife: A soap opera actoid playing two distinct roles, CW77502 plays the Mother who sits weeping while the Doctor gives the tragic news about their son. Has their emotional levels gradually increased on the central console until they are drowning out everyone else with their hysterical wailing. They also play the Farmer’s Wife, a supporting actor in Adam’s dream project for Jacie. Both of these characters require the performer to be able to “switch on and off” instantaneously on the instructions of the human characters.
    Dress Shop Assistant: A snooty and snobby dress shop assistant who is left aghast by Jacie’s antics..
    Prostitute: A threatening and agitated sort who threatens Jacie in their hotel room, thinking that Jacie is trying to steal their business