Open auditions for FPT’s production of The Father will be held on Sunday, February 25, starting at 6:30 PM.
The Father by Florian Zeller- SYNOPSIS
Andre is a man facing persecution from all sides, and he refuses to take it any longer. First some girl, a “helper” — whom he doesn’t need at all — steals his favorite watch. Then his daughter Anne, a scheming woman who worries too much, tries to take his flat away — the beautiful flat he’s had for over thirty years, in which he is still quite capable of living, thank you very much! His daughter Elise, the one he actually loves… where is she? She never comes to visit. Anne’s husband — or lover — Pierre, with whom she is moving to London — or staying in Paris — threatens Andre with violence if he will not cooperate, and to top it off, strangers keep entering Andre’s flat, telling him that they are his friends and family, telling him that he doesn’t live in his flat anymore. However aged he may be, Andre knows that he is a powerful man, a man of authority, and he will find some way to assert it. After all, he still has all his faculties…. Doesn’t he? In a darkly humorous and deeply poignant translation by Christopher Hampton, Florian Zeller’s The Father is a tragi-comic mystery, a sobering and realistic family story, and an unsentimental, emotionally intense look at the world through the eyes of a man experiencing dementia, a dramatic illustration of the physical losses which occur along with the mental ones.
CHARACTERS: Ages and genders indicated are how the characters will be perceived, not necessarily the age/gender of the actors.
ANDRE: (male presenting) Age 75-90 An aging man caught in the stages of dementia. He has been very independent and successful until his mind starts deteriorating. He has difficulty adjusting to his changing environment and the role reversals that come with family caregiving. Confusion and anger lead to some dynamic and powerful scenes. There are substantial lines associated with this character.
ANNE: (female presenting) Age 45-55 Anthony’s daughter. She is the only child left to decide and help her father in his final years. She is carrying a heavy burden. Her own life is not an easy one. Her emotional reservoir is running dry. She is logical and knows what needs to happen but the choices she has become limited as her father’s disease advances.
LAURA: (female presenting) Age 25-30 She is a licensed care giver. She prefers to do “in home” care as opposed to institutional care. She is compassionate and efficient. She has had a good amount of experience with dementia and Alzheimer’s for someone her age. She is “charmed” by Anthony and finds him something of a challenge. But she is confident in her skill.
PIERRE: (male presenting) Age 45-55 Paul is the romantic companion for Anne. He is her husband. But at times the script is as confusing as Anthony’s mind as to Anne and Paul’s real relationship. He loves Anne but he is ready to be free of this burden and wants to be able to travel and live his life with Anne unencumbered. He can be unkind at times to Anthony.
MAN: (male presenting) Age 35-50 He is a caregiver at the institution. He is a strong force physically. He will sometimes be confused in select scenes with Paul. He needs to have the ability to be physically abusive to the elderly. There are a few slaps delivered by this character to Anthony. They will be choreographed slaps, but we will be in the Adventure Space and so contact will be important to be believed.
WOMAN: (female representing) Age 45-55 This character will be perceived in some scenes as “Anne”. She needs to be compatible in size with Anne for that reason. She is a caregiver at the institution. She is compassionate but also very structured and intelligent in dealing with dementia and Alzheimer’s. She knows what her patients need and how to comfort their conflicted minds. All characters are open to actors
Read the sides, and sign up for an audition time by clicking the buttons below!
