Spring comedy needs actors, set designer

Melville Boys Audition - colour

Theatre director Nathan Linders thinks it’s never too early to start planning that summer vacation to the family cottage, especially when it includes the prospect of fishing and beer. Linders hopes he’ll find a few actors to bring such a scenario to life this winter in rehearsal for the South Okanagan Amateur Players’ next play. SOAP announces auditions for their spring production of The Melville Boys, a Canadian comedy by Norm Foster. SOAP has had success in previous years with Foster’s The Long Weekend and Wild Guys.

Open auditions will be held on Tuesday January 6 at the Osoyoos Art Gallery (upstairs) on 8713 Main Street Osoyoos, and Thursday January 8 at the Quail’s Nest Arts Centre (Studio) on 5840 Airport Street, Oliver. Both evenings run 7 – 9 p.m. Early arrivals preferred for script read-through, although late drop-ins are welcome.  No previous acting experience is required. Volunteers for backstage roles are also welcome to attend.

The Melville boys of the title are Lee and Owen, brothers who are polar opposites. Linders explains, “Lee is the hard-working, responsible older brother and Owen is … well, folks mostly like Owen.”  Good-natured Owen lives for fishing, beer, and women, and not necessarily in that order.  The boys have driven out to the family cottage to spend a weekend at the lake. Owen’s boyish antics attract the attention of locals Mary and Loretta, sisters with their own personal squabbles. The four spend the evening together getting to know each other and themselves, over cards and maybe just one too many drinks.

SOAP is looking for actors who can convincingly portray an age range between mid 20s to 40s. Actual actors’ ages may be flexible to allow for optimum matching of siblings and chemistry.

Older brother Lee left school to help support the family and has been carrying on the “family tradition” as foreman at a plastics factory.  Naturally cautious and conservative, he has recently received some bad news about his health. Younger brother Owen hasn’t quite grown up yet. Open, friendly, and likeable, Owen is willing to try anything once, except shoulder responsibility and settle down. He refuses to confront the seriousness of Lee’s condition. Mary owns the convenience store at the lake.  Her husband left her a couple of years ago. She’s a little less confident these days that she can land a good man. Her attractive younger sister Loretta has pinned her hopes on making a comfortable living acting in TV ads. Nine-to-five employment is not for her, but flirting is.

First time director Nathan Linders has earned his stripes onstage in leading roles and backstage as a technician, as well as being a board member. Diane Gludovatz, a SOAP veteran with directing experience, takes the assistant director’s chair.

The production team requires a keen set designer and crew to recreate the interior of a rustic cottage. Painters and hobby carpenters welcome, as well as backstage crew.  Info: soap @ telus.net  and www.soplayers.ca

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