Gentlemen’s Guide

Book and Lyrics by Robert L. Freedman
Music and Lyrics by Steven Lutvak
Based on a Novel by Roy Horniman

Presented through special arrangement with: Music Theatre International (MTI)
Directed by: Rick Steinberg
Produced by: Dana Marley-Kolb

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Music Director: David Ravetch
Choreographer: Miriam Durrie-Kirsch
Costume Designer: Beth Eslick
Lighting Designer: Jack Allaway
Hair Design: Lauren Bailor
Prop Designer: John Eslick
Sound Designer: Robin Rassell
Projection Design: Jeremy Zeller
Specialty Painting: Kimme Black
Dialect: Coach: Patrick Rogers
Stage Manager: Toni Thompson
Light Board Operator: Eve Kiefer
Projection Op/ASM: Lauren Wu
Spot Operator: Moe Bongiovi, Andy Ames
Sound Operator: Board Anna Linehan
Dresser (Matt): Deirdre Parmenter
Dresser: Melaine Fiske
Run Crew: Selin Jayda Tshimanga, Haley Cruz, Mackenzie Dell
Script Secretary: John Barker
Publicity/Lobby Photos: Aaron Kirsch
Rehearsal Photos: Mike McCauley
Lobby Board Designer: Dylan Kolb
PR: Ritchie Filippi

Audition Dates & Times:

Sunday-Tuesday, January 21-23, 7pm, Choose one day
Conejo Players Theatre
351 S. Moorpark Road
Thousand Oaks, CA 91361

Performances:

Friday and Saturdays at 8 p.m.
Sundays at 2 p.m. (No show March 31)
Thursday April 4 at 8 p.m.
Saturday April 13 & 20 at 2 p.m.

Audition Requirements:

Please prepare 24 bars from an appropriate song. An accompanist will be provided, or if desired bring background tracks on your device. Do not sing something from the show.
Please be prepared to dance. While there are no dance numbers, there are many movement numbers so you should be prepared to show that. Readings will consist of sides that will be posted online at www.conejoplayers.org before the audition dates. Please be ready to read multiple characters.
This is an unpaid, non-Equity production. Adult actors of all races and genders are encouraged to audition. 

For more information:

Contact Dana Marley-Kolb at [email protected]

Sides

Show Synopsis

When the low-born Monty Navarro finds out that he’s eighth in line for an earldom in the lofty D’Ysquith family, he figures his chances of outliving his predecessors are slight and sets off down a far more ghoulish path. Can he knock off his unsuspecting relatives without being caught and become the ninth Earl of Highhurst? And what of love? Because murder isn’t the only thing on Monty’s mind….

Character Descriptions

While all the characters in the play are British and must use a British accent, from different localities additionally, the most important thing is that we understand them. The pace of this show is a breakneck, and the singing is ridiculously fast, as it must be to keep the realism of the play. This also must be understood. This is a very stylized play that somehow makes you root for a murderer and while the victims are all strange characters, they do not get to claim victimhood. Posture is extremely important for some of the characters and not at all for others As you look at the descriptions of characters, you will find you may get to be a rich diplomate in one scene and a ruffian in another — plus, an entirely different person in the next scene. Let your imagination go crazy and don’t hold back. There is a lot of nudge nudges and wink winks in this show so have fun with it! There is no real dancing per say, but lots of staged movement that helps tell our story, so yes, you should all move beautifully.
The Entire D’Ysquith Family played by one actor
Male Adult Lead DANCING: Mover
Baritone
ANALYSIS
HIGH NOTE: F4 LOW NOTE :B2
Late 30s to mid 50s, British accent. The actor playing the D’Ysquith family quite literally plays each of the nine members in the D’Ysquith family line. It requires an actor with transformational comedic abilities. Physical dexterity and stamina are paramount. Although the actor need not be a remarkable singer, he must be perfectly comfortable in a musical comedy setting. The actor will portray nine unique members of the D’Ysquith family, each of which represent a familiar trope in British farce. These include:

• Lord Asquith D’Ysquith, Jr. — A pretentious “young bounder”
• Lord Adalbert D’Ysquith — The current earl of Highhurst Castle, and a former hero of the Boer Wars
• Reverend Lord Ezekial D’Ysquith — The alcoholic family reverend
• Lord Asquith D’Ysquith, Sr. — The head of the family bank
• Henry D’Ysquith — A country squire and avid beekeeper
• Lady Hyacinth D’Ysquith — an aging, unmarried society woman
• Major Lord Bartholomew D’Ysquith — a vegetarian bodybuilder
• Lady Salome D’Ysquith Pumphrey — a terrible actress
• Chauncey D’Ysquith — a prison janitor

Montague “Monty” D’Ysquith Navarro
Male Adult Lead DANCING: Mover Baritone HIGH NOTE: A4 LOW NOTE: A2
ANALYSIS Early 30s to mid-40s, British accent. Monty has recently learned that his mother, Isobel, was a member of the wealthy D’Ysquith family, but was disinherited when she married Monty’s father, a Castilian. Though he has lived most of his life with modest means, Monty feels right at home in the aristocracy. Handsome, charismatic, and very bright, Monty can charm anyone in an instant. Monty should be exceptionally winning and instantly likable. We should want him to succeed in murdering eight people. He should also have a solid baritone voice, with particular strength in the higher ranges.
Sibella Holland (Nee Hallward)
Female Adult Supporting DANCING: Mover Soprano HIGH NOTE: A5 LOW NOTE : F#3/Gb3
Operatic
ANALYSIS Late 20s to mid 30s, British accent. Sibella is a young society woman who Monty has been courting. She is sexy, flirtatious, and completely irresistible. Sibella is also exceptionally narcissistic, wildly self-absorbed, and a dedicated social climber. The actor playing Sibella
should have an exceptional character soprano with bright, clear high notes as well as comfort in a mezzo range. She does not belt.
Marietta Shingle
Female Adult/Mature Adult Supporting DANCING: Mover Soprano HIGH NOTE: A5 LOW NOTE: A3
ANALYSIS Late 40s to mid 60s, Cockney accent. Miss Shingle has worked as a housekeeper and governess for the wealthy D’Ysquith family for over thirty years. Miss Shingle has a soft spot for the disinherited Isobel D’Ysquith, and it is she who reveals to her son, Monty, that he has aristocratic lineage. She is an impeccable and engaging storyteller, but her enthusiasm occasionally gives Monty pause– she “might very well be insane.” She should have familiarity with music hall style singing. Her voice should have great character.
Phoebe D’Ysquith
Female Young Adult/Adult Supporting DANCING: Mover Soprano HIGH NOTE: C♯6/D♭6LOW NOTE: B3 Operatic
ANALYSIS Early 20s to mid-30s, British accent. Phoebe is a true aristocrat, possessing poise, sophistication, and purity. Phoebe may be virtuous, beautiful, innocent, and even comically earnest, but she is no traditional ingenue.
The actor playing Phoebe should have an agile coloratura soprano with richness and versatility. This is a great role for actors trained in classical voice or opera.
Tour Guide (And Pub Owner’s Wife And Mrs. Pebworth And Third Newsboy)
Female Adult/Mature Adult Featured DANCING: Mover Soprano HIGH NOTE: A5 LOW NOTE: F#3/Gb3
ANALYSIS Late 40s to mid-50s, British accent. An appealing and versatile character actor. This role requires solo singing. This actor plays four roles, including:

• Tour Guide — leads annual tours of Highhurst Castle on Visitor’s Day. She is very excited about sharing her knowledge with the visitors.
• Pub Owner’s Wife — the wife of a country pub owner. Works behind the bar
• Mrs. Pebworth
• Third Newsboy

Lady Eugenia (And Miss Hetherington And Fourth Newsboy)
Female Adult/Mature Adult Featured DANCING: Mover Soprano HIGH NOTE: A5 LOW NOTE: F#3/Gb3
ANALYSIS Late 30s to late 40s, British accent. Witty, biting, and a master of the withering stare. This role requires solo singing. This actor plays three roles, including:

• Lady Eugenia — The unhappy and bitter wife of the current Earl of Highhurst, She bickers constantly with her husband, alternately furious, pouty, and cruel
• Miss Hetherington
• Fourth Newsboy

Miss Barley (And Sibella’s Maid, And Phoebe’s Maid, And Lady Hyacinth’s Colleague, And Hilda)
Female Adult Featured DANCING: Mover Soprano. HIGH NOTE: C6 Soprano C LOW NOTE: G3 Operatic
ANALYSIS
Late 20s to mid 30s, British accent. Lovely, flighty, and slightly daffy. This actor plays five roles, including:

• Miss Barley — a daft, alluring young actress slash model (formerly a Florodora girl) who absconds to a resort with the wealthy Lord Asquith D’Ysquith Jr.
• Sibella’s Maid
• Phoebe’s Maid
• Lady Hyacinth’s Colleague — a wealthy society woman
• Hilda

Tom Copley (And Second Clerk, Lady Hyacinth’s Colleague, Second Newsboy, Actor, Ancestral Bust And Dr. Pettibone And Guard)
Male Adult Baritone
Featured DANCING: Mover HIGH NOTE: A4 LOW NOTE: A2
Late 20s to late 30s, British accent. Handsome, charismatic, and adaptable. This role requires solo singing. This actor plays eight roles , including:
ANALYSIS

• Tom Copley — A country farmer who is furious with Henry D’Ysquith for buying up his land. He is ready to fight down-home and dirty
• Second Clerk — A clerk who works with Monty at Lord Asquith D’Ysquith Sr.’s bank
• Lady Hyacinth’s Colleague — A wealthy society gentleman
• Second Newsboy
• Actor — Performs Hedda Gabler
• Ancestral Bust — A bust of a D’Ysquith ancestor at Highhurst Castle
• Dr. Pettibone
• Guard — A prison guard

 
Detective Pinckey (And First Clerk And Pub Owner And First Newsboy And Actor And Physician And Ancestral Bust And Mr. Cross)
Male Adult Featured DANCING: Mover
Baritone HIGH NOTE: G#4/Ab4 LOW NOTE: C2 (Low C)
ANALYSIS
Mid 40s to early 50s, British accent. Versatile and charming, with an exceptional sense of humor. This role requires solo singing, including very low bass notes. This actor plays eight roles, including:

• Detective Pinckey — A detective with Scotland Yard. This character has a featured song with the Magistrate.
• First Clerk — a clerk who works with Monty at Lord Asquith D’Ysquith Sr.’s bank
• Pub Owner — the owner of a pub in the British countryside
• First Newsboy
• Actor — performs Hedda Gabler with the ill-fated and terribly untalented Lady Salome D’Ysquith Pumphrey
• Physician
• Ancestral Bust — the bust of a D’Ysquith ancestor at Highhurst Castle
• Mr. Cross

 
The Magistrate (And Mr. Goodall, Actor, And Mr. Gorby)
Male Adult Featured DANCING: Mover Tenor HIGH NOTE: A#4/Bb4 LOW NOTE: A#3/Bb3
ANALYSIS Late 30s to mid 40s, British accent. A versatile character actor. This role requires solo singing. This actor plays four roles, including:

• The Magistrate — a somewhat dim-witted magistrate in Monty’s murder trial. This character features in a musical number with Detective Pinckey
• Mr. Goodall
• Actor — performs Hedda Gabler with the ill-fated and terribly untalented Lady Salome D’Ysquith Pumphrey
• Mr. Gorby

Ensemble — various ages, genders and vocal ranges. Ensemble actors play a variety of roles including featured characters with solos and lines. Must be able to portray a variety of characters’ distinguishing traits. A lot of the above roles will be played by the Ensemble, plus so many more!