General Audition Information:
Scapin
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Auditions will be held Monday, September 15th in the theatre. Signups will be held in Room 107 at 2:40 that day. Once you sign-up (just
for an order to be seen), just wait in the hall by 107 until your name is
called. Each auditioner is seen individually in the theatre. Each
audition lasts about 5 minutes, we hope. You may leave after your
audition.
To audition, you need to prepare a comedic monologue. Any
monologue from anywhere is fine, if comedic and PG-13. There are
great monologues available from books on reserve at the Prep library
counter, if you want to use them. Choose a monologue that
showcases you and your abilities well. The length isn’t terribly
important, but about 2 minutes max is good. Be confident, be loud
and enjoy your time on stage.
Monologues should be memorized, but prompting is allowed (within
reason).
A great way to prepare is to have an experienced upperclassman
help you.
Casting is based singularly on talent. People are not automatically
cast because they have been in other shows. Auditions count!
Auditions at the Prep are not like American Idol. There is no
negative feedback and no trauma. Not everyone is cast, but no one is
humiliated.
And remember: new people ALWAYS make Prep shows.
(Especially new people who prepare!) Last year senior Mike
DiDonato ’08 had good parts in two shows, and he had never been
involved before. In fact, many new people (Matt Iacoviello ‘08, Mike
Iannacone ’10, Gianluca Keeler ‘08) were cast in recent shows.
We will need an on stage Piano Player for this show. Music will
underscore the action. Email Mr. Braithwaite if interested.
An audition Workshop – tips, pointers, advice, etc. – will be held in
the theatre Friday, September 12th 2:40 – 3:15.
Questions, concerns? Contact Mr. Braithwaite
abraithwaite@sjprep.org
The Characters:
Octave – Son of Argante; in love with Hyacinth
Sylvestre – Shy servant to Octave
Scapin – Servant to Leander
Hyacinth – Beloved of Octave
Argante – Father of Octave
Geronte – Father of Leander
Leander – Son of Geronte; in love with Zerbinette
Zerbinette – Beloved of Leander
Nerine – A servant woman
On-stage piano player (sometimes interacts with characters)
Porters, Messengers, Gendarmes –
Total of probably 4
Plot Summary:
The crafty Scapin, servant to the household of Geronte, jumps into the story as he first
promises to help in the romantic affairs of his neighbor's son, Octave, then to aid in those
of his own charge, Leander (Geronte's son). Both young men have fallen in love with
unlikely and penniless beauties, and both need money to help solve their dilemmas.
Scapin knows a good ruse will always win the day and he drafts Sylvestre, Octave's
servant, into his schemes. Convincing Sylvestre he's a wonderful actor (and allowing him
to build characterizations using movie cliches), Scapin has him play characters who will
deceive the family patriarchs into parting with large sums of money. The final scene of
the first act is a vaudeville/music hall version of Molière's famous scene in which Scapin
spins a tale of kidnapping, foreigners and ransom. Once the money is obtained, however,
Scapin pushes further in order to exact a little revenge on those he's served. Thinking
Geronte has said something nasty about him, Scapin sets out to teach him a lesson. The
roguish words, however, are Scapin's own lies and stories finally coming back to him, his
revenge backfires and he must flee. In the end however, Scapin's schemes aid in revealing
the penniless beauties to be the exact right mates for the young charges (being of high
birth after all since they are discovered to be the missing children of both patriarchs) and
Scapin returns to his post, with the pleasant punishment of having to marry the
maidservant of one of the daughters. There is a final chase and comedic dance among all
the participants, which, inevitably, becomes the raucous, delightful curtain call.