Audition Notice

Date: Sunday 4th December 2022

Where: Chorley Theatre

Time: 4pm

Directed by: Zoe Jones

Musical Director : Paul Carr

Stage Manager: Ellie Brown

Produced by: Ian Robinson

Performance dates: 20th – 25th February

A film came out in 2016 starring Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant about the true story of Florence Foster Jenkins….the worst singer in the world, it was a film full of laughter, love and some sadness as well, for February 2023 at Chorley Theatre we have decided to bring to the stage the play based of Florence Foster Jenkins life written by Peter Quilter.

Glorious is the hiliarious comedy of the worst singer in the world In 1940’s New York, the performer who everyone wanted to see live was Florence Foster Jenkins, an enthusiastic soprano whose pitch was far from perfect. Known as ‘the first lady of the sliding scale’, she warbled and screeched her way through the evening to an audience who mostly fell about with laughter. But this delusional and joyously happy woman paid little attention to her critics, instead she was surrounded by a circle of devoted friends who were almost as eccentric as she was.

Based upon a true story, the play spins from Florence’s charity recitals and extravagent balls, through to her bizarre recording sessions and an ultimate triumph at Carnegie Hall in this hilarious and heart-warming comedy.

Characters:

Florence Foster Jenkins -Age 50+

American accent

Eccentric American lady and amateur soprano who became known and mocked for her flamboyant and notably poor singing ability. Florence Foster Jenkins is a singer.  A bad singer.  One of the worst ever (but she just doesn’t realise). This part requires someone who sings, who will then learn to sing badly.  Or I am willing to cast an actress who does not sing and she can just fight for the notes. This part requires a keen sense of comedy, and we will find a way of making Florence sing in the terrible way that made her so infamous

Possible songs to research and sing on audition day:

‘Adele’s Laughing Song’ (Strauss)

‘Queen of the Night’ (Mozart)

‘Biassy’ opening bars (Pavlovich)

Cosme McMoon -Age 20+

American accent

Cosme McMoon is quite a shy character with a dry sense of humour who is shocked by Florences’ inability to sing. He accompanies her on her recitals playing piano. This part requires comedy timing and a strong actor, I do not envisage this part actually playing the piano more to imitate playing the songs on a piano.

St Clair -Age 50+

English accent

St Clair is Florence Foster Jenkins manager and boyfriend. He is a out of work actor and accompanies Florence on all her recitals, a very flirtatious and likeable character, a strong sense of comedy timing is required for this part.

Dorothy – Age 50+

American accent

Friend and neighbour of Florence, a flirtatious character with St Clair who quite enjoys the attention.

Maria 30+

Spanish

Florences housemaid who is a feisty character and regularly gets frustrated at the lack of communication between Florence and herself. Strong gestures and facial expressions are required. This part is Spanish speaking throughout the whole play, therefore audition pieces for this part will be available before the audition day to enable to actress to practise and translate the meaning and spoken words they are saying.

Mrs Johnson – Age 30+

Small part, a music lover who tries to petition for Florence to get banned for her terrible singing in the name of music and decency!

Audition pieces will be given out on the day of audition, and sufficient time will be given for you to practise.

If you have any questions or queries please give me a call: 07447 452488 or email: zoeduffinjones@icloud.com

Thanks

Zoe