WONTHAGGI THEATRICAL GROUP

TRACK A

Roles: Historian | Not Dead Fred | Prince Herbert

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HISTORIAN

Role Function: Structural Narrator introduces scenes and setting on occasion.       

Scenes / Moments

Act 1, Scene 1.

Act 1, Scene 6

Act 2, Scene 1.

Energy / Comedy Style:  Documentarian, Professor.           

Voice / Movement: Articulate and deliberate, we need this character to appear scholarly and learned but never slow and boring.

He’s an excited fellow.

Key Tasks / Notes: Introduce the scenes in a way that feels historical and epic, mythical and grandiose but factual. Never boring, but never too exciting either.

 

NOT DEAD FRED

Role Function: Singing and dancing plague riddled peasant.

Scenes / Moments: Act 1, Scene 4

Energy / Comedy Style:  Starting off slowly and sickly, becomes animated and lively throughout the scene.   

Voice / Movement: Old and doddery, feeble and weak even as he moves about.

Key Tasks / Notes: Portray a dying peasant recovering from the black death, he breaks into song and dance to demonstrate his recovery.

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PRINCE HERBERT

Role Function: Male presenting damsel in distress, romantic and innocent young lad.       

Scenes / Moments: Act 2 Scene 8 ,Act 2 Scene 11

Energy / Comedy Style:  Sincere and sweet, earnest and effeminate.         

Voice / Movement: Soft and gentle, a little bit pathetic.

Key Tasks / Notes: Strike the balance between pitiful and pathetic and lovable. He’s a tricky character but his sincerity and earnest nature should come off sweet.

 

AUDITION TIPS: If Herbert is played as too flamboyant or effeminate he might come off as unlikable, and we really want a lovable, sweet, endearing Herbert. It’s a tricky balance to strike but he’s a great character that needs just the right amount of softness to make him work.

With the Historian, He’s stern, stiff and expresses things almost entirely through his face and voice. He should begin as rather unconfident and awkward and build towards excitement the closer to the end of his monologues.

 

AUDITION SCENES

Herbert: Act 2, Scene 8, pp. 78–79

Herbert: Act 2, Scene 11, pp. 106–107

Historian: Act 1, Scene 1, p. 1

Historian: Act 2, Scene 1, p. 53   

 

AUDITION SONGS

No. 22 – Where Are You (Bars 25–36)

No. 29A – Finale Part 2 / Find Your Grail Reprise (Bars 1–15)