Choosing what play to do is a really hard task. There are so many limiting factors, that finding one that fits is like searching for a needle in a haystack. I like to work on a 2 – 3 year plan so I always know what is coming up which means having around 5 suitable plays up my sleeve. In 2018 I read about 180 scripts and from that there were 6 that made the cut, the rest of the 174 plays were just not possible for one reason or another. This is why....
The selection criteria;
1. Gender of the cast.
The first knock out round is gender of the cast. There is a shortage of adult male actors in the Warburton area so I always have to be mindful of this. If I open up a script and it is for 8 men, I close it & move on without reading a word. If it has 1 male, then ok, 2 means maybe and will require phone calls to see who is free, and 3 is verging on impossible. More than that and it’s an automatic no. It is a great shame as there are some fantastic plays out there that we just can’t do. So if you have any male friends that can act PLEASE send them our way pronto!
2. Number in the cast
Second round is also quick. If it has less than five or more than ten cast, it gets disqualified. Catprint has quite a few regulars that like to participate and I try very hard to get everyone who wants to be on stage, on stage. Choosing a show that has a cast of 2 would mean too many people miss out, so I wont do it. I hate to have to say no to anyone after auditions and I always do so with reluctance and regret. It is also very difficult to get everyone that is interested in acting free at the same time, which is why finding more than ten is also hard.
3. Limitations of the stage
The third round takes a full read. The Art Centre in Warburton has many limiting factors and I have to ascertain if it is physically possible to do the play in the venue or not. Often we can substitute or change things, but if it’s essential to the plot, then we can’t. The wings (side of stage) are only 1m wide to the external walls and everything that has to come on or off stage, has to fit into this narrow space, with enough room for actors to get past without being seen by the audience. If storage requirements are too high, then it’s eliminated. If dropping something on stage from above is vital, it’s also out, as the ceiling isn’t high enough and there are no mechanisms to make this work. If it requires a hidden trap door entrance or exit on the stage itself, I will discard it, as there is no below stage access what so ever.
4. Subject matter
If the script makes it to the final round then it’s all down to subject matter. I know a lot of people do it tough in their lives; there are always things to worry and stress about. I don’t want to do a subject matter that leaves anyone in despair or grieving or sad. My default therefore is comedy (there will be exceptions to this of course, but for good reason that I could only justify on a per show basis.) I like and hope to leave people feeling as if they have had a really nice time out and a break from the worries in their lives.
If a script gets though to the end then these few are the winners that you will see us perform. We have either done it already or it’s still in my to-do pile. It means I have a play that I can cast, that we can create at our lovely venue and one I can make look visually beautiful. It is a play that will make people feel entertained and happy, that they have found charming and lovely to look at, they have enjoyed a complimentary supper in the foyer with chats with other locals too. We aim to give our audience a wonderful night out at a very reasonable price.
Mission accomplished.
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