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Comic Potential

20 October @ 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Written By: Alan Ayckbourn

Creative Team: Directed by Greg Elliott


In the near future, former film maker Chandler ‘Chance’ Tate is directing a banal television soap. Actoids have replaced human actors and one, Jacie, appears to have a glitch as she keeps breaking into laughter. Filming is interrupted by high powered executive Carla Pepperbloom and the TV magnate Lester Trainsmith’s nephew Adam. Adam is a writer, a dying breed, and idolizes the work of Chance. When Adam is left in the studio, he runs an old Busker movie and Jacie begins to laugh. Adam begins to teach her the basics of comedy leading to Jacie doing a double-take when filming on the soap resumes. Initially sceptical, Chance talks to Adam about Jacie and the art of comedy and demonstrates her talent for the job. Clandestinely, the pair agree to work on a comedy film with Jacie. She is given freedom to improvise and under Chance’s tutelage begins to learn more.

The mute Leister Trainsmith arrives with Carla and Jacie’s comedy scene is shown. Carla tears it apart and Chance loses his temper. Carla continues to insist on changes and finds herself on the receiving end of a custard pie from Jacie. Lester laughs and approves the film but orders Jacie to be scrapped. Carla returns order the studio closed. Jacie initially doesn’t mind being scrapped but after she and Adam dance and kiss, she realizes she doesn’t want to ‘die’.

Adam and Jacie go on the run and check in at the Grand Hotel, go shopping and have a meal – with unforeseen results. Back in their room, Adam uses a Bible to teach Jacie to read. Unfortunately, Jacie has been tracked and Adam sends her a cheap ‘hotel’ to hide, although she is becoming increasing unstable and distressed as she begins to feel real emotions. Adam returns but is stabbed by a pimp who believes Jacie is a prostitute. Jacie over-powers him, but distraught that Adam has been injured, she returns to the studio.

At the studio, Carla is revealed to leaked Jacie’s story to the press and Lester proves not to be a mute, firing Carla. He offers Jacie Carla’s job, but Jacie is still confused and decides to be scrapped. Adam returns from the hospital and is given bad news by Chance. As he mourns his loss, Jacie appears and admits she couldn’t go through with being scrapped. The lovers are reunited, but Jacie looks set to be harder taskmaster than Carla in her new role….


Information Session:


Audition Information: www.blackwood.players@gmail.com

Audition Information #:0
Date: 20/10/2024
Time From – Time to: 1.00pm – 5.00pm

 

Character Descriptions #:0
Role Name: All roles are available
Gender: Undefined
Stage Age:
Role Information: JCF 31333 Jacie Triplethree
20’s – 30’s. Jacie is an android (actoid) who laughs at one of the errors another actoid makes; she is not meant to be able to do sets her apart from other actoids. Jacie is witty and clever and physically strong. She has unique qualities. 

Adam Tainsmith
20’s – 30’s, is an aspiring writer who becomes attracted to Jacie and begins creating a story that is based around her for a new tv soap opera; he is desperate tom prove himself. When Jacie is in danger, he takes her away and hides with her in hotels in the city.

Chandler
Late 50’s was a film director with a good reputation, but now has ended up working with community television and a cast of actoids not human actors, churning out TV Soap Operas. He realizes Jacie’s potential in TV entertainment.

Lester Trainsmith
In his 80’s, who doesn’t speak (until later scenes). He is in a wheelchair. He is the wealthy owner of the television station.

Marmion
30’s. Is the speaker for Lester Trainsmith and voices Lester’s thoughts and opinions.

Prim Spring, programmer.
30’s. Prim is responsible for the actions of the actoids and if there is an issue or problem, she needs to rectify it. Prim can alter the emotional responses of the actoids.

Trudi Floote, technician.
30’s. Trudi is like a floor manager and overseas technical aspects of the filming.

Carla Pepperbloom, company director
40’s – 50’s. Carla is flamboyant, demonstrative, quite theatrical, histrionic and overbearing. She is ambitious and sees herself as the next director of Lester’s company. She would be an awful employer.

Doctor Actoid
Gives the young man in the hospital bed the bad news about his operation. The doctor is the actor who mucks up his lines which sets Jacie off.

Son Actoid
Young man, a patient in the hospital bed.

Mother Actoid
40’s – 50’s. Tearful and emotional, she is sad about her son’s condition. She is able to be much more emotional when she is programmed to cry and be much sadder about her son.

Marmion, voice of Lester Trainsmith
Marmion voices Lester’s thoughts.

Hotel Desk Clerk
Registers Jacie and Adam in the hotel.

Waiter 1
Serves Jacie and Adam in the hotel restaurant. He whispers to Jacie that his aware she is an actriod and she needs to leave immediately or will blow her cover.

Waiter 2
Serving other customers.

Man in Dress Shop.
Rich, older man who is impatient about having to wait while his young partner tries an outfits.

Girl in Dress Shop.
Rich man’s young, slender girlfriend dressed in a skimpy outfit.

Dress Shop Assistant.
Any age. She happy assists Jacie who enthusiastically chooses outfits.

Prostitute
Mature woman. A rough diamond. She jumps to conclusions about why Jacie and Adam are in the hotel room.

Turkey
An older man, a pimp. He also jumps to the conclusions about why Jacie and Adam are in the hotel room and approaches them aggressively

Farmer – Adam’s TV Plot
An older man with kindly intensions.

Farmer’s wife – Adam’s TV Plot
A mature woman who helps Jacie in need

Most small roles can be doubled up for a smaller cast.


More Information at: www.blackwoodplayersinc@gmail.com


Contact: Myles Leon
blackwood.players@gmail.com
0421002802

Details

Date:
20 October
Time:
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Event Category:
Event Tags:
Website:
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Organiser

Blackwood Players Inc.
Phone
0481 373 949
Email
blackwood.players@gmail.com
View Organiser Website

Other

Genre
Comedy

Venue

Blackwood Memorial Hall
21 Coromandel Parade
Blackwood, SA 5051 Australia
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Phone
(08) 8278 4898
View Venue Website