Audition Information for
Night Watch
by Lucille Fletcher
Audition Date: September 4 at 2:15 in the Chiles Theatre
Callback Date: September 5 at 2:15 in the Chiles Theatre
Performance Dates: October 30, 31(?) and November 1
Female roles:
Elaine Wheeler – Protagonist, 20-30s, emotionally unstable, feels betrayed
Blanche Cooke – Elaine’s best friend, 20-30s, nurse, efficient, tailored
Helga – Wheeler’s German maid, 30-50s, suspicious
Jessica Appleby – Busybody neighbor, 50’s-60s, amateur sleuth
Dr. Tracey Lake – Noted psychologist, 30’s-50s, professional
Male roles:
John Wheeler – Elaine’s husband, 30-40’s, stocks and bonds broker, all business
Lt. Walker – Homicide detective, 30-40’s, has no time for crazy women
Vanelli – Young 20’s, Italian Brooklyn patrolman, has an eye for art
Sam Hoke – Owner of local deli, working class, murder is hurting his business
Two swing actors – one male, one female, may also be cast to serve as understudies and asst. stage managers
Audition procedure: Complete the audition form posted on the ChilesTheatre.com website, and bring it plus a recent photo of you to the audition. Be sure to list ALL possible conflicts. Prepare one monologue for the character you would most like to play from the list available on the website. There are also four perusal scripts available for overnight checkout. You will be assigned a number at the beginning of the audition and will be brought in to audition in small groups. Once you have performed your monologue, you may leave. The callback list will be posted on the website before the callback the next day. If you are called back, you will be asked to perform a scene from the script. Casting will be by type, ability, availability, and responsibility.
The story – Elaine Wheeler, watching through the window one sleepless night, sees a dead body in the abandoned apartment next door. Upon investigation by New York policemen Walker and Vanelli, no trace of a body is discovered. Believing she is suffering from the loss of her first husband, John, Elaine’s current husband, and Blanche, her best friend, arrange for her to meet with a psychiatrist, Dr. Lake, to talk about getting help in a Swiss clinic. When Mr. Hoke, the local deli owner arrives to tell the Wheelers to quit calling the police because it’s hurting his business, Elaine insists that he is the dead man she saw. Next, Elaine sees a dead woman through the window. Not believing her, police won’t respond to Elaine’s repeated calls to investigate. Busybody neighbor, Jessica Applegate, pokes around and suggests it might be a hoax – an inside job. Further, Helga the maid who has been eavesdropping throughout the play, discloses that that building next door is owned by John’s company. Elaine confronts John about her suspicions of an affair with Blanche and their plot to kill her. She tries to prove it by using a key she found to open the building next door. John and Blanche follow her and are murdered in the empty building. Of course, police won’t respond when Elaine tells them that there are two dead bodies next door. So, she leaves for Switzerland – just as she had planned.