Auditions- May 6th 2023 Central Park Bandshell, Midland MI. RSVP- https://forms.gle/6DoVmucU2tWshv9eA (RSVPs not required but recommended.) Hi! I’m Luke Sommerfield, I am an actor, singer, director and I am also going to host and direct five fundraisers to finish opening my dream theater. This is one of the five shows. Just a little bit about me…… I am a singer, songwriter, musical writer, puppeteer, puppet builder, ventriloquist and piano and trumpet player. I have been in a handful of plays ever since kindergarten. My favorite role was at Bay City Players Encore Youththeater's Imaginary Friends Detective Agency where I played the lead role named Paul. My least favorite role I have had was a kid named C.W. Worthington in my school's production of Back To The Cross. My other acting credits include: The Evil Easter Frog, The Bizarre Nikolai, A Child's Christmas In Wales, In The Big Inning, Not Your Average Joe, I Witness News Live From Jericho, Life School Musical, & We Are Untied. My directing credits include: The Evil Easter Frog & The Bizarre Nikolai.. My Writing Credits include: The Evil Easter Frog and The Bizarre Nikolai. I am currently writing over 28 plays and musicals. My puppet building collection is almost over 500 puppets, give or take a couple thousand! When I am not doing anything in the theater, I spend time with my family, serve at my church, do school work unfortunately, and spend time with all five of my pets. If I could go back in time and do any one of my shows it would have to be A Child's Christmas In Wales at the Bay City Players. Here is a little about the play you are auditioning for Plot: Nora Helmer, a young woman, enters her house carrying packages. It is Christmas Eve, and a porter delivers a Christmas tree. Nora’s husband, Torvald, emerges from his study and greets her. She shows off the Christmas gifts she has bought for their children, and although Torvald chastises her for spending too much, he is also very affectionate towards her, calling her his “little skylark” and “little squirrel.” The two of them celebrate the fact that Torvald has recently been promoted to Bank Manager, meaning they can have a more comfortable life. Mrs. Linde and Dr. Rank arrive. Dr. Rank and Torvald exit to talk in his study. Mrs. Linde, who hasn’t seen Nora for eight years, tells her that she had an unhappy marriage and is now a widow hoping to find a job. Nora promises her that she will ask Torvald to give her a job. Nora then reveals a secret she has been hiding: when she and Torvald were first married, she borrowed money in order to finance a trip to Italy that was necessary to save Torvald’s life, as he had grown ill. She has paid off the debt in installments, secretly taking jobs and saving money from her allowance from Torvald. Nils Krogstad, an employee at the bank, arrives and talks to Torvald in Torvald’s study. Dr. Rank comes out to talk to Nora and says that Krogstad is morally corrupt. Torvald enters, and after a brief conversation with Mrs. Linde, says he can give her a job at the bank. Torvald, Mrs. Linde, and Dr. Rank exit, and Nora plays happily with her children. Krogstad enters, and Nora tells the children to go to their nursemaid and not tell anyone about Krogstad’s visit. It is revealed that Krogstad is the person who Nora borrowed money from. He explains that he is being fired by Torvald, and that Nora must stop this happening or else Krogstad will tell everyone her secret. He adds that he has evidence that Nora forged her father’s signature in an IOU. Krogstad exits, and Torvald returns. Nora tries to persuade him not to fire Krogstad, but is unable to. Act Two begins the next day, on Christmas Day. Nora, alone on stage, worries about her fate. Mrs. Linde arrives to help Nora sew her costume for a fancy dress ball that is being held on Boxing Day. Nora is dressing as an Italian fisher girl and plans on dancing the tarantella. Mrs. Linde asks to know more about Nora’s secret, but Nora refuses to tell her anything for the moment. Torvald enters and Nora tries again to convince him not to fire Krogstad. However, the harder Nora tries, the angrier Torvald gets, and he eventually decides to send Krogstad’s notice immediately. Dr. Rank arrives and is depressed, telling Nora he will die soon. She flirts with him and seems to be considering whether to ask him for money. He reveals that he is in love with her, and Nora gives up the idea of asking him for help. Dr. Rank leaves and Krogstad returns, asking if Nora had told Torvald her secret and telling her his ambition to eventually run the bank. He leaves a letter explaining the secret debt and forgery in Torvald’s letterbox and exits. Mrs. Linde returns and Nora explains the situation to her. Mrs. Linde tells Nora that she and Krogstad used to be in love, and asks that Nora distract Torvald while Mrs. Linde attempts to talk to Krogstad. Mrs. Linde leaves, and Nora begs Torvald to help her rehearse the tarantella. She dances in a crazed, uninhibited way, puzzling Torvald about what has gotten into her. Mrs. Linde returns, saying Krogstad was not in but that she left him a note. The Act ends with Nora declaring that she has thirty-one hours left to live. Act Three opens on the next day. Krogstad comes to meet Mrs. Linde at the Helmers’ house while they are at the ball. It is revealed that the two of them once loved each other but that their relationship ended when Mrs. Linde chose to marry a richer man because that was the only way to support her family. Mrs. Linde suggests that, now that their respective spouses have both died, she and Krogstad marry so that she can take care of his children and they can live a happier life together. Krogstad is thrilled, and offers to ask for his letter to Torvald back, as he now regrets his earlier actions. Mrs. Linde, however, tells him to leave it, saying that the truth must come out. Krogstad leaves, and Nora and Torvald return from the ball. Mrs. Linde urges Nora to tell her husband the truth, and then she leaves as well. Torvald tells Nora how much he desires her, but Nora stubbornly resists his advances. Dr. Rank arrives and talks happily about how much he enjoyed the party, especially the wine. He leaves and Torvald discovers two visiting cards that Dr. Rank put in his letterbox, indicating that he is about to die. Nora says goodnight to Torvald and sneaks out to the hall, preparing to escape and commit suicide. However Torvald stops her, having discovered the letter from Krogstad. He is furious with her, saying she has ruined his life and that, although they will keep living together to preserve appearances, they cannot be happy and he won’t let her raise their children. The maid brings a note from Krogstad saying he no longer wishes to blackmail Nora; the IOU is enclosed. Torvald rejoices, saying he is saved and that he forgives Nora. However, Nora reveals that she was going to kill her herself because she thought that Torvald would step forward and defend her, ruining his life and career. She explains that she has realized that she can no longer live with Torvald, whom she considers to be a stranger to her, and wishes to leave in order to discover a sense of who she is. Torvald at first calls her stupid and insane, before changing his tone and promising to change so that she will stay. Nora, resolute, says she must leave. Torvald is left alone onstage in despair. The play ends with the sound of the slam of the front door as Nora exits. This is a play, not a musical. No singing or dancing skills are required. If cast, you are responsible for putting down the $2.00 deposit on your copy of the script. This is non-refundable. If you do not wish to keep the script, please give it to me, so I can re-use it. We will be rehearsing in various locations. Hope all this helps! -Luke Sommerfield. CHARACTERS Nora Hemler- At the beginning of A Doll’s House, Nora seems completely happy. She responds affectionately to Torvald’s teasing, speaks with excitement about the extra money his new job will provide, and takes pleasure in the company of her children and friends. She does not seem to mind her doll-like existence, in which she is coddled, pampered, and patronized. As the play progresses, Nora reveals that she is not just a “silly girl,” as Torvald calls her. That she understands the business details related to the debt she incurred taking out a loan to preserve Torvald’s health indicates that she is intelligent and possesses capacities beyond mere wifehood. Her description of her years of secret labor undertaken to pay off her debt shows her fierce determination and ambition. Additionally, the fact that she was willing to break the law in order to ensure Torvald’s health shows her courage. Krogstad’s blackmail and the trauma that follows do not change Nora’s nature; they open her eyes to her unfulfilled and underappreciated potential. “I have been performing tricks for you, Torvald,” she says during her climactic confrontation with him. Nora comes to realize that in addition to her literal dancing and singing tricks, she has been putting on a show throughout her marriage. She has pretended to be someone she is not in order to fulfill the role that Torvald, her father, and society at large have expected of her. Torvald’s severe and selfish reaction after learning of Nora’s deception and forgery is the final catalyst for Nora’s awakening. But even in the first act, Nora shows that she is not totally unaware that her life is at odds with her true personality. She defies Torvald in small yet meaningful ways—by eating macaroons and then lying to him about it, for instance. She also swears, apparently just for the pleasure she derives from minor rebellion against societal standards. As the drama unfolds, and as Nora’s awareness of the truth about her life grows, her need for rebellion escalates, culminating in her walking out on her husband and children to find independence. Nora is our main character in the play. We are seeking someone who can relate to her feelings, someone with passionate acting skills. Previous experience in theater is required for this role. Characters Like Her: Bessie (A Child's Christmas In Wales), Eliza Doolitle (My Fair Lady.) Age- 12-18. Torvald Hemler-Torvald embraces the belief that a man’s role in marriage is to protect and guide his wife. He clearly enjoys the idea that Nora needs his guidance, and he interacts with her as a father would. He instructs her with trite, moralistic sayings, such as: “A home that depends on loans and debt is not beautiful because it is not free.” He is also eager to teach Nora the dance she performs at the costume party. Torvald likes to envision himself as Nora’s savior, asking her after the party, “[D]o you know that I’ve often wished you were facing some terrible dangers so that I could risk life and limb, risk everything, for your sake?” Although Torvald seizes the power in his relationship with Nora and refers to her as a “girl,” it seems that Torvald is actually the weaker and more childlike character. Dr. Rank’s explanation for not wanting Torvald to enter his sickroom—”Torvald is so fastidious, he cannot face up to anything ugly”—suggests that Dr. Rank feels Torvald must be sheltered like a child from the realities of the world. Furthermore, Torvald reveals himself to be childishly petty at times. His real objection to working with Krogstad stems not from -deficiencies in Krogstad’s moral character but, rather, Krogstad’s overly friendly and familiar behavior. Torvald’s decision to fire Krogstad stems ultimately from the fact that he feels threatened and offended by Krogstad’s failure to pay him the proper respect. Torvald is very conscious of other people’s perceptions of him and of his standing in the community. His explanation for rejecting Nora’s request that Krogstad be kept on at the office—that retaining Krogstad would make him “a laughing stock before the entire staff”—shows that he prioritizes his reputation over his wife’s desires. Torvald further demonstrates his deep need for society’s respect in his reaction to Nora’s deception. Although he says that Nora has ruined his happiness and will not be allowed to raise the children, he insists that she remain in the house because his chief concern is saving “the appearance” of their household. Nora’s husband. He works at the bank, and just got a promotion. We are seeking someone who is loving, kind, knows how to rule a household, and who has a comedic sense to him. Previous experience is required for this role. Characters Like Him: Tuyder (A Child's Christmas In Wales.) Ricky Ricardo (I Love Lucy.) Age- 12-18. Nils Krogstad- Krogstad is the antagonist in A Doll’s House, but he is not necessarily a villain. Though his willingness to allow Nora’s torment to continue is cruel, Krogstad is not without sympathy for her. As he says, “Even money-lenders, hacks, well, a man like me, can have a little of what you call feeling, you know.” He visits Nora to check on her, and he discourages her from committing suicide. Moreover, Krogstad has reasonable motives for behaving as he does: he wants to keep his job at the bank in order to spare his children from the hardships that come with a spoiled reputation. Unlike Torvald, who seems to desire respect for selfish reasons, Krogstad desires it for his family’s sake. Like Nora, Krogstad is a person who has been wronged by society, and both Nora and Krogstad have committed the same crime: forgery of signatures. Though he did break the law, Krogstad’s crime was relatively minor, but society has saddled him with the stigma of being a criminal and prohibited him from moving beyond his past. Additionally, Krogstad’s claim that his immoral behavior began when Mrs. Linde abandoned him for a man with money so she could provide for her family makes it possible for us to understand Krogstad as a victim of circumstances. One could argue that society forced Mrs. Linde away from Krogstad and thus prompted his crime. Though society’s unfair treatment of Krogstad does not justify his actions, it does align him more closely with Nora and therefore tempers our perception of him as a despicable character. The antagonist. He works at the bank with Torvald. We are seeking someone who can be sneaky, cunning, and be able to make women fall in love with him. Previous experience is required for this role. Characters Like Him: Wino (Little Shop Of Horrors.) Phantom (Phantom Of The Opera.) Age: 20-45+ Mrs. Linde- Mrs. Linde represents the variety of ways that women can live fulfilling lives, independent of their husbands. Mrs. Linde acts as a foil to Nora, providing a serious contrast to Nora’s frivolous personality and highlighting the spoiled life Nora leads. Mrs. Linde, like the “hundreds of thousands” of women that Nora points out to Torvald, led a self-sacrificing life in order to help her loved ones, first turning down Krogstad’s proposal in order to marry a wealthier man and help her ailing mother and younger brothers, then working long hours once her husband’s finances failed. By working so much, Mrs. Linde learned how to become a self-sufficient woman, something of an anomaly in her time, causing genteel society like Torvald to find her “boring.” Because of the hardships she endured for much of her life, Mrs. Linde describes herself as becoming “bitter,” and since she is “obliged to be always on the lookout for chances” to survive, she calls herself “selfish.” Yet her actions say otherwise, and, according to her own philosophy, “Deeds you must believe in.” When Nora describes how Torvald has just been promoted to bank manager, Mrs. Linde confesses that her first thought was how she might land a job through this connection. Yet Mrs. Linde uses the eventual job offer to save Krogstad, the man she once truly loved and never forgot. The job offer also places Mrs. Linde in the interesting position of being both the breadwinner of her future family and a motherly figure for Krogstad’s children. Her days are filled with work to keep her mind occupied while also enabling her to provide for others, the two things she craves above all. Her reunion with Krogstad and her insistence that Torvald reads Krogstad’s letter show that she truly understands the honesty and respect necessary for the “real” wedlock that Nora describes at the end of the play. Nora’s friend. We are seeking someone who can be kind, sympathetic, caring, and act like your average middle school teacher. Previous experience is not required for this role. Roles like her: Isir (Aladdin) Kathrine Plumber (Newsies.) Age: 12-45+. Dr. Rank- Dr. Rank's function in the play also refers to a past occasion in Nora's life. Just as she used to seek the conversation of the maids as a refreshing change from the moralizing of her father, Nora finds amusement in Rank's companionship as a change from the tiresome cant of Torvald. Rank's illness also serves as the physical counterpart of the moral illness of Krogstad and, by extension, of Torvald. An innocent victim of a social disease, the physician is as deeply concerned as Torvald in maintaining an exterior of well-being. Rather than allow anyone to witness the degrading aspects of his "final dissolution," Rank bids farewell to his friends and prepares to die in private. Torvald, by the same token, wishes to maintain appearances "at any cost" when he discovers Nora's disease, of which he is the victim. Doctor and family friend. Previous experience is not required. Age- 12-15+. The Helmers Three Small Children- Three children. Two boys and one girl Kid one has to be able to act, and even though she has very small speaking parts, through her lines she should make it seem that she is overfilled with joy! She should not be any taller than 5 feet. We ask this due to the fact that she is a child, she can be played by a teenager though. Kid two has to be able to act, he is the middle child so in his lines, he should express worry or anger. We ask that he is no taller than 4’5. We ask this due to the fact that he is a young child. This role can not be portrayed by a teenager. Kid three has to be able to act. He is the youngest child so he should express sneakiness in his lines. We ask that he is no taller than 3 feet. We ask this due to the fact that he is a very young child. This role can not be portrayed by anyone over the 3rd grade. Nora’s kids. We are seeking any kids ages 5-11 to portray these roles. Previous is not required, but recommended. Ages- Kid One- 10, Kid 2- 7, Kid 3- 4-5 Helen- The maid. Very small role. Previous experience is not required. Age 12-15. Anne-Marrie- The nanny. Nurse to both Nora and Nora's children, the nursemaid, whose name is Anne Marie, is a kind woman who was forced to give up her own child, who it is suggested was born out of wedlock. The nursemaid is an example of a woman in bad circumstances forced to do anything in order to survive. When Nora first thinks of leaving she considers the fact that her children will be raised by the nursemaid and, remembering what a good mother the nursemaid had been to her, decides that she would also raise Nora’s children well. Previous experience is not required. Age 12-15. A Porter- A Porter. One line role. Previous experience is not required. Age- 12. REHEARSAL SCHEDULE The rehearsal schedule can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hs2coKdrTwy6LZSH1TgE9dCCoRIj9uFzTLu3owg6zWk/edit?usp=sharing Notes From The Director How Will I Be Notified Of Casting? I will be calling you each personally, giving you your role and arrange our production meet, or offering you a chance to volunteer if not cast. Are We Getting Paid For This? In a short answer, no. I can not grant anyone a paycheck. This is not a pro-professional theater production. This is a community theater production. Can You Give Me A Background Part If I’m Not Cast? Unfortunately, no. I’m only allowed to cast those roles listed above! I’ve been in this situation before too. This play takes place in Nora’s house only! Not in an outdoor place where people can walk on by. Where Are The Tentative Rehearsal Places? I am estimating Emerson Park, Central Park, Optimist Park, Hintz Park, Stardfords Wood Park, Chippewa Nature Center, Dow Gardens, and Putnam Park. I Fall Out Of The Age Range! Can I Still Audition? Absolutely! If you fall out of the age range feel free to audition! I cast based on talent not on height or age! As long as you can act, that's all I care! Why Wasn’t I Cast? It's not that I don’t think you're talented, it's just that I might have found someone better for the part! I can only cast eleven people. PRODUCTION TEAM Luke Sommerfield- Director Assistant Director- TBA Stage Manager- Judy Sommerfield Producer- Luke Sommerfield. FINAL NOTES If it rains, we will still be holding the auditions. There is a stage there, we will hold them underneath there.
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