The St. Albert Theatre Arts Guild Entertainers (STAGE) is calling all victims of vindictive technology to audition for their upcoming fall production of Alarms and Excursions.
Playwright Michael Frayn, who also penned Noises Off, has written a script composed of eight individual playlets with people in situations where technology causes added frustrations — situational comedies where so-called modern handy gadgets can reduce people to idiocy.
“The premise is man’s inability to communicate and cope with gadgetry and anything they do can make it backfire. The technology doesn’t quite work the way it’s supposed to. But the technology is really a jumping off point for farcical situations, ” says lead director Steve Palmer.
The original London production had two men and two women playing 24 roles. “It’s a very flexible play and we can cast up to 24 actors,” adds Palmer.
This particular show will have four directors each masterminding two playlets each. The other directors include Stanley Haroun, Lauren Baril and an as yet unnamed director.
“Some of the roles will be non-speaking. The actors will have to mime. They can be harder. You have to be more expressive,” Palmer explains.
Actors between the ages of 20 to 60 are needed. A sample of characters includes a couple holed up in a hotel, airline passengers, party guests, a politician, businessmen and a German tourist. “All the parts are pretty cool.”
Would-be thespians will be invited to do a cold read. Auditions will be held Saturday, June 25 from 1 to 5 p.m. at St. Albert United Church on Green Grove Drive.
