New Players is excited to announce our 2023 season: Death & Taxe$, by April Phillips.
Directed by Sarah Upston.
Performance dates: Thurs 21 Sept – Sat 30 Sept 2023
Audition details:
When: Sun 21 May
Time: 4pm-6pm
Where: Newlands Community Centre, 9 Batchelor Street, Newlands
See the full post for a synopsis and character list.
The story
A madcap financial farce set in the very topical world of insurance, investments and KiwiSaver! It’s a crime story. It’s a ghost story. It’s an hilarious comedy featuring dodgy deals, a potty psychic, a fishy tax inspector, a nutty cop, murder, mayhem and a hairy yak!
Gareth Burke, Destiny Life’s top agent for 3 years in a row, wants to win the trip to Hawaii and take gorgeous receptionist Tiffany with him. But Lucille Potts, is determined to be the first female agent to top the sales figures and has a supernatural plan to ensure victory. Before he can take the prize, Gareth must overcome the obstacles in his path – an over-bearing wife, a manic-depressive corporate motivator, the police, the Inland Revenue, and even his own untimely death.
The characters
GARETH BURKE: Middle or late middle-aged insurance agent. An arrogant, offensive, show-off who thinks he’s God’s gift. Gareth gesticulates punctuation.
TIFFANY MARTIN: Late 20’s/early 30’s – Receptionist. A bimbo with attitude and a gold digger.
ENID BURKE: Middle or late middle-aged – Gareth’s wife. A domineering, large, intimidating woman with expensive taste.
BOB GREENE: Early ‘40s. An unambitious insurance agent. Nice and polite and single; still lives with his mother.
LUCILLE POTTS: Middle aged female insurance agent. Lucille is an ambitious saleswoman. She is a dowdy, frumpy spinster and although confident in business, she is extremely uncomfortable with anything of a sexual or personal nature.
DOUGLAS GRAVES: Middle aged Business Development Manager. Nasal and monotone, unsmiling and slightly creepy. Think Mr Bean crossed with the manic depressive robot from “Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy”.
TED PATCHETT: 30’s or 40’s – detective inspector who habitually quotes from movies and impersonates his favourite stars.
ELIZABETH BATTERSEA: Aged 68 – a forthright widow who doesn’t suffer fools and speaks
her mind.
Audition process:
Complete the audition form and indicate if you have a particular part you wish to audition for.
Send the completed form to .
You’ll be sent an audition piece, depending on your character interest.
Due to the nature of the play, the auditions will mostly be done in a group format. The focus will be less on getting the audition pieces line perfect, but more about the dynamics and interactions of the characters.
Note:
Auditions and most rehearsals will be at Newlands Community Centre.
The production will be at Gryphon Theatre, 22 Ghuznee Street, Wellington.
Rehearsals
Starting from Tues 23 May
Tues & Thurs 7.30pm-9.30pm
Sunday 4-6pm