AUDITION PACKET The Elephant Man By Bernard Pomerance Audition Dates November 13 & 14, 2017 Performance Dates January 25-27, 2018 What is The Elephant Man about? The Elephant Man is based on the life of John Merrick, who lived in London during the latter part of the nineteenth century. A horribly deformed young man, victim of rare skin and bone diseases, he has become the star freak attraction in traveling side shows. Found abandoned and helpless, he is admitted to London's prestigious Whitechapel hospital. Under the care of celebrated young physician Frederick Treves, Merrick is introduced to London society and slowly evolves from an object of pity to an urbane and witty favorite of the aristocracy and literati only to be denied his ultimate dream, to become a man like any other. What roles are available? (8-9 actors to be cast) NOTE: All roles require a British or Cockney accent, if we can pull it off. (Welsh, Irish and Scottish are also acceptable.) Yes, you should try and audition with an accent. MALE *John Merrick, the Elephant Man must be good with movement John, is horribly deformed. His speech should have an odd, off quality. He has a twisted curved spine and walks with a limp. Only his left hand is functional. Howe, Bishop and minister to Merrick. He is kind and warm. Not a hint of cynicism. FEMALE *Mrs. Kendall Actress who befriends Merrick. She is one of the characters in the play that truly knows Merrick. She is lighthearted and effervescently bubbly. The closest friend John has in the play. Duchess, Princess, Countess, Pinheads, Nurse, etc. 3 roles with multiple parts EITHER MALE OR FEMALE *Frederick Treaves, Merrick s doctor the most complex character in the play. He is benevolent and generous, forever questioning and slowly throughout the play grows to despise Merrick. Similar to Dr. Frankenstein and his monster, he creates a celebrity and resents the fame that comes with adoration. Gomm, Treaves boss at the hospital absolutely no nonsense. Nothing even slightly amusing about this man. Ross, a lower class, Cockney con-man who is a real jerk to Merrick he beats the cripple and abandons him in Brussels. Snork, Conductor, Policeman, Manager, Porter, Lord John, etc. 3 roles with multiple parts (*indicates a major role) Who may audition? Any PHS student in good academic standing. Where & when are auditions? In 905, auditions will be on Monday and Tuesday after school. If you can get a ride home or drive please come on Monday so we are not overwhelmed with students who need the bus on Tuesday. Cast list will be published online, November 17 by 6pm.
What do I have to do for the audition? Prepare for the scenes in the packet. They are from the play. Make sure you read and prepare ALL of the packet not just the role you are interested in. Sometimes the director will see you differently than you see yourself. When are rehearsals? There will be a read through of the script November 20th. Rehearsals will begin in earnest November 27 and will be spotty (allowing for concerts and finals preparation, etc.) during December. There might be 3-5 rehearsals over winter break. If cast, you are expected to begin the next year with the script memorized. Rehearsals for this play will be Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday from 3:15-5:30. Attendance at all called rehearsals will be mandatory due to the small cast. Two unexcused absences will result in removal from the cast. This is a different kind of play than we ve ever done. This is a huge commitment: emotionally, physically Do not audition for this play without having the time to commit to it heart and soul.
AUDITION SCENES for THE ELEPHANT MAN SCENE 1 ROSS. Pennies only, step in and see: this side of the grave, John Merrick has no hope or expectation of his relief. In every sense his situation is desperate. His physical agony is exceeded only by his mental anguish, he despised creature without consolation. Pennies only, step in and see! To live with this physical hideousness, incapacitating deformities and unremitting pain is trial enough, but to be exposed by the cruelly lacerating expressions of whore and disgust by all who behold him is even more difficult to bear. For in order to survive, Merrick forces himself to suffer these humiliations, I repeat, humiliations, in order to survive, that's he exposes himself to crowds who paid to gape and yawp at this freak of nature, The Elephant Man! SCENE 2 TREAVES. You are? Miss Sandwich? SANDWICH. Sandwich. Yes. TREAVES. You have experience in missionary hospitals in the Niger. SANDWICH. And Ceylon. TREAVES. I may assume you ve seen- SANDWICH. The tropics. Oh those diseases. The many and the awful scourges our Lord sends, yes, sir. TREAVES. I need the help of an experienced nurse, you see. SANDWICH. Someone to bring him food, take care of the room. Yes, I understand. But it is somehow difficult? TREAVES. I have been let down so far. He really is that is, the regular Sisters well, it is not part of their job and they will not do it. Be ordinarily kind to Mr. Merrick. Without well panicking. He s quite beyond ugly. You understand that? His appearance has terrified them. (They walk into Merrick s room.) John, this is Miss Sandwich. She- SANDWICH. Oh my good God in heaven. (She bolts from the room.) TREAVES. You have let me down, you know. I did everything to warn you and still you let me down. SANDWICH. You didn t say- TREAVES. I did say! SANDWICH. No one will do this. I am sorry.
SCENE 3 MERRICK. I plan to so many things to say. I forgot them. You are so beautiful. KENDAL. How charming, Mr. Merrick. MERRICK. Well. Really that was what I planned to say. That I forgot what I plan to say. I couldn t think of anything else I was so excited. KENDAL. Real charm is always planned, don t you think? MERRICK. No. I do not know why I look like this, Mrs. Kendall. My mother was so beautiful. She was knocked down by an elephant in the circus while she was pregnant. Something must have happened, don t you think? KENDAL. It may well have. MERRICK. It may well have. But sometimes I think my head is so big because it is so full of dreams. Because it is. Do you know what happens when dreams cannot get out? KENDAL. Why, no. MERRICK. I don t either. Something must. SCENE 4 (note: GOMM has just fired a hospital employee who was gawking at Merrick.) TREAVES. I will bet you don t know what to call this. MERRICK. No, sir, I don t know. TREAVES. You call it, home. MERRICK. Never had a home before. TREAVES. You have one now. Say it, John: home. MERRICK. Home. TREAVES. No, no, say it. I have a home. This is my home. Go on. MERRICK. I have a home. This is my home. This is my home. I have a home. As long as I like? TREAVES. That is what home is. MERRICK. That is what is home. TREAVES. In your own home do you not have to have crowd staring at you. Or anyone. Do you? In your home? MERRICK. No. TREAVES. Then Mr. Gomm was merciful. You yourself are proof. Is it not so? (Pause.) Well? Is it not so? MERRICK. If your mercy is so cruel what do you have for justice? TREAVES. I am sorry it is just the way things are.
The Elephant Man Audition Form Name Grade Email you want us to use Phone Approx GPA Can we add your number to the show s GroupMe? Yes No Part Trying Out For If you are male and auditioning for Merrick, are you willing to appear on stage without your shirt? Will you accept any Yes role? No Yes No If not cast are you willing to work on any of the following crews? Check your top two: Running Crew: Helps move the scenery during the show. Sound Crew: Runs the sound board (sound and music Costumes: Helps cast make fast changes; inventories all cues) clothes after the show. Prop Crew: Assembles, stores and shops for properties Make-Up: Designs and applies make-up to cast. used in the show. Construction Crew: Builds the set House: Helps with ticket sales, passing out programs, Painting Crew: Paints the set selling flowers/ candy Lighting Crew: Lights the show and runs the board Assistant Director/Stage Manager: Helps the director and virtually runs the whole show during production. After School Commitments (Include clubs, sports, etc.) Conflicts between now and performance dates, include WINTER BREAK PLANS. PARENT PERMISSION - I give my permission to my son/daughter to audition for THE ELEPHANT MAN. If cast I am aware there is a $100 participation fee and my child will be required to abide by the rehearsal schedule and rules put forth by Princeton Theater. Signature date