KING LEAR AUDITION PACK
AUDITION DATES
Monday 23rd February 7.30 pm
THE LINDENS
86 LINCOLN ROAD PE1 2SN
and
Thursday 26th February 7.30 pm
JOHN MANSFIED
CENTRE DRAMA STUDIO Western Avenue PE1 4HX
Thank you for your interest in King Lear Mask Theatre’s 12th Shakespeare in
the Park. I am carrying Tom Fox’s wonderful plan of doing a few touring dates
before our Central Park residency. The Touring sites will be Crowland Abbey,
Moonhenge and a venue on Saturday ……to be announced.
Peterborough Mask Theatre has a great reputation of welcoming new members,
we want NEW members to join and get involved.
The pack is to help you to prepare for audition… this means that before you
come, you have some sort of idea about the story of the play, its characters and
the pieces involving the characters you are interested in auditioning for.
Five important things to know about King Lear auditions
1.
It is very informal – There is only me (Director) and Jan (Secretary) behind
a table scribbling. You will be asked to try the scene with script in hand with
a few other people.
2.
All is to play for – Don’t worry about age, gender or type… you can audition
for anything! We have no prepared idea of what we are looking for, so go
for your ideas!
3.
Audition pieces are in the Script – They are allocated by page within the
Mask Theatre’s version of the script. It is available as a pdf on the website.
For a paper copy please e-mail John Crisp: jandecrisp@aol.com – A deposit
of £5 will be required for every script which will be refundable if not cast.
They will be available on the day to borrow free of charge.
4.
Standing up – You will stand up while reading the scene. This is just to see
how you use the space. Because you are reading at the same time, we are
not expecting miracles, we will be looking out for how you react to what is
happening around you.
5.
Be yourself – we want to get to know you, so just relax and be you!
2
The Story
King Lear decides to abdicate and divide his kingdom between his three
daughters. When Cordelia refuses to play along with her father’s ‘game’ when
asked to make a public declaration of love, she is disinherited and married to the
King of France, after the Duke of Burgundy rejects her as she has no dowry. The
Earl of Kent defends her and is banished by Lear. The two elder daughters
Goneril and Regan, and their husbands, Albany and Cornwall, inherit the
kingdom.
Gloucester, deceived by his bastard son Edmund, disinherits his legitimate son
Edgar, who is forced to go into hiding to save his life. Lear, now stripped of his
power, quarrels with Goneril and Regan about the conditions of his lodging in
their households. In a rage he goes out into the stormy night, accompanied by
his Fool and Kent, now disguised as a mad beggar, Poor Tom, Gloucester goes to
help Lear but is betrayed by Edmund and captured by Regan and Cornwall who
as a punishment, put out his eyes. Lear is taken secretly to Dover where Cordelia
has landed with a French army. The blind Gloucester meets but doesn’t
recognise Edgar, who also leads him to Dover. Lear and Cordeila are captured
by the sister’s forces.
Goneril and Regan are in love with Edmund, who encourages them both.
Discovering this Goneril’s husband, Albany, forces Edmund to defend himself
against the charge of treachery. A knight appears to challenge Edmund and, after
fatally wounding him, reveals himself to be Edgar. News comes that Goneril has
poisoned Regan and committed suicide. Before dying, Edmund reveals that he
has ordered the deaths of Lear and Cordeila . He attempts to reprieve the order
... Lear carries on the lifeless body of Cordelia … he dies and Albany hands over
the kingdom to Edgar.
3
The Production
Touring Dates 16th – 18th July
Central Park 21st -25th July
This is a departure from doing comedies as our Summer ‘Mask in the Park’.
The last performed tragedy was in 1998 when Macbeth was produced at the Key.
King Lear is a wonderful story with bucket loads of strong characters. I am
aiming to do what Mask does best and is now renowned for: telling the plot
clearly and letting the language come alive. The play has been cut so the running
time will be the standard outdoor timings whilst keeping the beautiful moving
speeches.
As a source Shakespeare drew on the play of the time ‘The True Historie of King
Leir’ which was based on the story of iron age King Leir of Britain who ruled in
the 8th Century BC. I have set this production in these times and the costume
designs are looking really vibrant and exciting. There will be plenty of
opportunity for putting into practice the broad sword training many of you have
gained from visits to Stratford.
King Lear was written around 1605-1606 early in the reign of King James where
he was trying to unite England and Scotland. King Lear shows the dire
consequences of dividing a United Kingdom. James was very keen on the divine
right of kings. He had a boisterous retinue of followers, favourites amongst his
court and his own licenced Fool.
What I find fascinating about the play is the exploration of family relationships
and strong sibling resentment coming from unintentional or intentional actions by
the fathers Lear and Gloucester.
Soon after the play is cast I intend to explore these relationships around a big
family Sunday Lunch at my house where all the jealousies and status of the main
characters in the Lear and Gloucester households can be explored….No food
throwing allowed!
Part of the rehearsal process will include a mask workshop by Emily Grey of
Trestle Arts Base on archetypal Shakespearean characters. King Lear’s Fool will
be performed in a half mask until we see the Fool no more after Act 3 Scene 7.
4
Character Breakdown
Lear King of Britain - He can’t cope when things don’t go his way. Lear assumes
that his power and influence will continue after he hands over his kingdom, the
arc of emotions as he deals with this:- anger, confusion, childlike behaviour
indicate some form of dementia. When stripped of everything only a vulnerable
old man remains.
Goneril Lear’s eldest daughter – Strong, determined, ambitious and resentful of
having to be the one who is dealing with the outrageous demands of an ageing
father. No respect for her husband and is quickly swept away into sisterly
jealousies over her relationship with Edmund.
Regan Lear’s middle daughter – More sense of naughtiness than her elder sister
but equally ambitious - will use her feminine whiles to get what she wants.
Equally cruel as her husband Cornwall.
Cordelia Lear’s youngest and favourite daughter - Protected and adored by her
Father. Is Cordelia nervous or just does not want to play a part in her father’s ego
charade. Comes back stronger with an army to help her father.
Duke of Albany Goneril’s husband – A good man in a bad marriage. Goneril
assumes his character is weak but he stands up to her when she pushes him too
far.
Duke of Cornwall Regan’s husband - Enjoys the power his wife’s position gives
him, has no qualms about going against the King. A bully, enjoys hurting and
humiliating people.
King of France suitor and later husband to Cordelia – Values Cordelia for
herself rather than riches.
Duke of Burgundy suitor to Cordeila – Purely after Cordelia for the £££££
Earl of Kent loyal noble later disguised as Caius. His love and dedication to
King and Country leads to his banishment. He disguises himself as the rougher
spoken Caius so he can follow and protect his King. Easily flies off the handle,
the oily Oswald really rubs him up the wrong way.
5
Earl of Gloucester Kind and loyal, a little foolish - The arc of Gloucester’s story
mirrors that of Lear, how he has treated his two sons in the past plays a part in his
downfall. He too has to cope with a dramatic fall from influence this time
betrayed by his son Edmund. The eye gouging torture scene is one audiences
will either look forward to or dread.
Edgar Gloucester’s legitimate son later disguised as Poor Tom – 1 year older
than illegitimate brother Edmund. A good man who has to use his wits to
survive. He starts off naïve and gullible, has to feign madness as Poor Tom to
avoid capture, guides his blinded father (without revealing his identity), is a
revenging warrior against his brother and ends the Play ruling the Kingdom.
Edmund Gloucester’s illegitimate son – feels he has not been treated fairly by his
father, plots and schemes, to his own advantage. He uses the audience to revel in
his cleverness just like Richard III. Happy to play one sister off against the other
as he works out where ultimately the power will lie.
Fool To be played in a half mask Lear’s own personal stand up comic - Has a
clear bond with the King. A wise fool who can criticise Lear with no fear of
banishment (unlike Kent).
Old Man - Gloucester’s tenant helps the blinded Gloucester.
Curan - Gloucester’s loyal servant
Oswald Goneril’s steward – one of those people you meet and your really don’t
like. Would quite happily kill a blind man. Oily, cowardly, picked on by Kent
and killed by Edgar.
Doctor - looking after the ill Lear
Gentlemen, Captains, Knights, Wenches, Attendants and Servants. We will need
characters to double up to create illusions of mass of Knights and Soldiers .
6
Audition Pieces
Lear, Burgandy,
France, Cordelia
5–7
ACT AND
SCENE
1.1
France, Cordelia,
Regan,
Goneril
Edmund
Edgar
7–8
1.1
11 – 12
1.2
CHARACTER
PAGES
FIRST LINE
Lear: My Lord of
Burgandy
France: Bid
farewell to your
sisters
Edmund: This is
the excellent
foppery of the
world
Lear: Your name,
fair gentlewoman?
Fool: Shalt see
thy other
daughter
Edmund: Save
thee, Curan
Lear, Goneril,
Albany
Lear, Fool
17 – 18
1.4
20 – 21
1.5
Edmund, Curan
21
2.1
Oswald, Edmund
Fool (disguised)
Gloucester, Regan,
Cornwall
Lear, Goneril,
Regan
24 – 26
2.2
Oswald: good
dawning to thee
friend ...
33 – 34
2.3
Gloucester,
Edmund
Edgar as Mad Tom
Lear, Fool
37 – 38
3.3
Lear: I prithee,
daughter, do not
make me mad
Entire Scene
39 – 40
3.4
Edgar: Away! the
foul fiend ..
Old Man,
Gloucester,
Edgar (asides)
46 – 47
4.1
Old Man: O’ my
good lord ...
Goneril, Albany,
Messenger
49 - 50
4.2
Goneril: I have
been worth the
whistle
7
END LINE
France: Is queen of
us, of ours and our
fair France
Goneril: We must do
something, and i’ the
heat. Exeunt
Edmund: I do serve
you in this business
Goneril: That
dotage gives it.
Fool: She that’s a
maid ... Exeunt
Curan: You may do,
then, in time. Fare
you well, Sir
Cornwall: No more,
perchance, does
mine, nor his, nor
hers.
Lear: Oh fool, I
shall go mad.
Exeunt
Edgar: Dolphon my
boy, my boy, sessa,
let him trot by
Old Man: I’ll bring
him the best ‘parel
that I have, come
on’t what will. Exit
Albany: Tell me
what more thou
know’st. Exeunt
Gloucester, Edgar
51 - 52
ACT AND
SCENE
4.4
Cordelia, Doctor,
Lear, Kent
58 - 59
4.5
CHARACTER
PAGES
FIRST LINE
Gloucester: When
shall we come to
the top of that
same hill?
Entire Scene
END LINE
Gloucester: Now,
fellow, fare thee
well.
PLEASE NOTE: If you are not available for the audition dates, please email me
catherine.myland@btopenworld.com or alternatively telephone me on
07747 763050 to organise another slot before Monday 23rd February.
8