|
WHEN: Saturday, November 9, 2 PM; Sunday, November 10, 2 PM. Callbacks will be on Wednesday November 13 at 7 pm. WHERE: Westfield Community Players | 1000 North Avenue West |
Westfield
Synopsis: A brilliantly tense play from
Patrick Hamilton that was the basis of the film by Alfred Hitchcock.
There is no such thing as the perfect murder. Or is there? Two
wealthy friends, believing themselves to be intellectually superior to
their contemporaries, murder their fellow undergraduate/graduate
student purely to see if they can get away with it. They then throw a
party, serving food from the top of the trunk where they have hidden
the body. Tension and suspicions increase as the evening wears on.
"Rope" remains one of the classics of the thriller genre and
its themes are still relevant today.
The play will be directed by Peter Curley,
with Barbara Ruban as stage manager.
Nine characters are needed:
Brandon (Male or Female) (Age 22-34) A wealthy, arrogant,
charming, domineering and intelligent University Student who is also a
cold-blooded murderer. Feeling superior in all things, and a
dangerously firm believer in Nietzsche’s Übermensch concept.
Granillo (Male or Female) (Age 22-34) Brandon’s friend and
accomplice in murder, they are less confident and more nervous.
Well-thought of as courteous and friendly by others, they grow more
nervous and panicked and struggle to hide it even with a few drinks as
the night goes on. Very much dominated by Brandon.
Rupert Cadell (Male) (Age 40’s-60’s) Former professor to Brandon
and Granillo, Rupert is a charismatic, observant and calculating poet
with an injury and mental anguish after experiencing War. Walks
with a limp and a cane. Brandon and Granillo consider Rupert almost
their intellectual equal…almost. Gradually tries to unravel the murder
plot using old fashioned detective work.
Raglan (Male or Female) (Age 22-34) A classmate of Brandon and
Granillo, Raglan looks up to Brandon. Simple and quite hopeless but
overall likeable with a sense of humor and fun to any dinner party.
Leila Arden (Female) (Age 22-34) A classmate of
Brandon and Granillo. Leila is a beautiful, bright, and flirtatious
young woman. She likes being the center of attention. She is also a
close friend of the murdered victim.
Johnson Kentley (Male) (Age 50’s-60’s) Father of
the murder victim. He is very placid. He’s an avid book collector and
cares for his family, including his invalid wife.
Mrs Debenham (Female) (Age 50’s-60’s) Johnson Kentley’s sister,
she is clueless, silly, distant, and dull. When she does speak, it’s
always vague and unimportant. Represents a shallow, upper-class society
as well as comic relief in the play.
Mrs Wilson (Female) (Age 40’s-60’s) She is
Branford and Granillo’s hired maid, who sets up for the party. Dutiful
and attentive, she always does her best to please her employers and
guests.
Kentley (Male or Female) (Age 22-29) The murdered student
friend of Brandon and Granillo (non-speaking role, seen briefly at the
beginning of the play.)
|
