OPEN AUDITIONS for the SAIGON PLAYERS’ COMEDY-Shakespeare in Saigon

We are in need of actors to play the following characters:
Main parts:
- David
He is in his 60s. He loves great literature especially the Bard. He’s a brilliant but unconventional teacher using the Marx Brothers to introduce Shakespeare. He wears his heart on his sleeve. He discovers a lot about himself when faced with difficult and unexpected problems. How he reacts to sadness and loss is painful then exciting. How he relates to a young woman and his elderly mother reveal much about this fascinating man. (open to male actors from mid-30s to 60s)

- Thanh
She is a young Vietnamese woman, recently arrived in a new land. She lives with and is fiercely loyal to her elderly paternal grandparents. Thanh speaks no English and works extremely hard as an outworker. She lives in a working-class suburb with a strong Vietnamese community and shops only in Vietnamese-speaking shops. She would like to understand the language and culture of her newly-adopted country. She would like to find love. (actor must be fluent in both Vietnamese and English)

If auditioning for David or Thanh:
Prepare Act One, Scene Eight from FX: “More Loud knocking on door” until Thanh’s line: “(Bursts in calling) Nho noi ho di qua nha ke benh nhe”
This is the first time David and Thanh meet. Thanh is flustered and distressed in this scene for obvious reasons. She should have lots of frantic energy. David is slightly confused but not overwhelmed. He cracks jokes and is generally slightly bemused by the whole encounter.
AND
Act Two, Scene Six until Thanh’s line: “I knowest I love thee”

- Julia (open to female actors aged 30s and above)

Minor parts (open to female actors from 18 years old and above):
- Juliet is a teenage English Literature student in the final class taught by David. She is cheeky, means well and grateful to her “elderly” teacher for his teaching efforts.

- Janice is the middle-aged school principal of the school from which David is about to retire. She is a hard-working, good-natured administrator.

- Judith is David’s wife and about his age. She is cold, blunt and gets what she wants.
If auditioning for Judith:
Prepare to read Act One, Scene Three
In this scene David gets officially abandoned by his wife, although they haven’t been good for a long time.
Judith is much more resolute than David, although she does feel sympathy for him at times because she realises that his life is falling apart.
David hides behind his jokes. He is funny but reveals some underlying pain at certain moments. Despite frequent quips, he does not take this well (as can be seen in a near-psychotic episode in the next scene).

*We are also looking for people for our creative team- set, costume and light designers; and production staff (asst. production manager, stage manager, props manager and team) Come to the auditions as well to meet the director and steering committee.

A delightful play, beautifully written—an unusual and moving love-story with Shakespeare as matchmaker. Don’t miss it. Cenarth Fox’s plays are exceptional.
- Eastern FM 98.1

A delightful and touching piece of theatre which would be ideal for somewhere like Sydney’s Ensemble Theatre in Neutral Bay.
- John Bell – Bell Shakespeare

A brilliant play, absolutely not to be missed, one out of the box.
- Marie Ryan 96.5

An exceptional piece of theatre which makes you laugh and cry. There is wonderful use of language, humour
and pathos throughout the play. Don’t miss it. 5 stars.
- Joan Amos

The process of David teaching Thanh to speak English using the words of the Bard is cleverly written and most humorous.
- Melbourne Observer

Thanks and see you at the auditions!