Curtain call: 'Dial M' auditions Sunday June 12

Posted: Wednesday, June 1, 2011, 7:18am

Curtain Players will conduct auditions for its production of the Frederick Knott mystery play DIAL M FOR MURDER at 6:30 PM Sunday, June 12, at Gallery 202, Partners in Art, Inc., in Uptown Westerville.

Gallery 202 is located at 38 North State Street in Uptown Westerville. The space is on the second floor above the Amish Originals furniture store. There is only one night of auditions.

Michael Day directs DIAL M FOR MURDER, to be staged September 9-10, 16-18 and 23-25. Day has acted, directed, and stage managed many Curtain Players productions. He is the treasurer on the Curtain Players Board of Directors.

In this popular 1952 Broadway thriller (later adapted by Alfred Hitchcock into a Hollywood film), Tony Wendice has married wife Margot for her money and now plans to murder her for the same reason. His efforts to execute the perfect crime are the basis for a tale of mystery and suspense.

Auditions are open to the general public. Roles available for one woman (age 30s) and five men (ages 20s to early 60s). There are several unscripted characters to be cast that will double as house staff during performances. Most characters speak with British accents.

Character Descriptions for Dial M for Murder

Ages are targets, but may vary somewhat based on audition pool.

Margot Wendice: early 30s, English, has social standing and some money.

Max Halliday: 30s, American, a writer for a television crime series, has a sharp wit. He and Margot have “history” together, that they have kept hidden from Margot’s husband.

Tony Wendice: Margot’s husband, mid 30s, English, a former professional tennis player. Charming. Actor must be fit enough to have recently been a tennis player.

Captain Lesgate: late 30s. A swindler. Needs to be 3-4 years older than Tony. Tony knew of him in University, but they were not acquainted. But Tony knows enough of his current life to be comfortable hiring him for a “job”.

Inspector Hubbard: can be late 30s – early 60s. Policeman investigating the crime that occurs in the show. Very professional and dedicated to his calling. A really sharp individual who sees and understands more than one might suspect.

Thompson: 20s – early 30s. young policeman working with Hubbard to solve the crime.

In addition to the scripted cast, Day hopes to cast the following unscripted “characters” to work the house…

Usherettes: 2 females, late teens to early 20’s. Will serve as the house ushers for each performance. Skills in improv/ad lib are a big plus as they will be dealing directly with the audience. Must also have British accents befitting their place.

House Manager: male or female, 40’s or 50’s. Will portray the “owner” of the theatre, and will be performing this role at each performance. This person will also be serving as the real house manager for the performance, and delivering the curtain speech before the performance. Skills in improv/ad lib are extremely important, as this person will be interacting with the audience prior to the performance, during intermission, and after final curtain. Must also have a British accent as befits a theatre owner.