5/20-21 - AUDITIONS for The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents
Adapted by Matthew Holmes from the best-selling novel by Sir Terry Pratchett
Directed by Sadonna Croff
Music Direction by Katherine Wilson
Auditions for youth age 10-18:
Sun. & Mon., May 20 & 21, 6:30 pm. at Riverwalk Theatre
Shows: July 26-29, (4 days only!)
Maurice is an amazing cat. He can think, he can talk...and he has an amazing scam going with his gang of intelligent rats and one stupid-looking kid. When they arrive in Bad Blintz, all is not as it should be. What are those resident rat-catchers up to?
Malicia Grim: The precocious daughter of the Mayor. Malicia is a storyteller and a bit of a fantasist, but not easily fooled. She has a substantial acting role, joins in many of the songs and is the overall narrator.
Maurice: A scruffy, streetwise street cat, who has magically learned to speak and think incredible thoughts. He likes to look after number one, and delights in tricking the humans out of money. Ultimately, Maurice saves the day. He has quite a physical part, joins in many of the songs and has a substantial number of lines.
The Kid: A teenage orphan who was raised by the musicians’ guild and now follows Maurice and the rats, playing his pipe. As long as he can keep playing music, he’s happy. He has a substantial number of lines, plenty of singing opportunities and an optional solo rap.
The Clan Rats: The rats who used to live on the rubbish dump near the Wizards’ Unseen University and have been magically transformed into thinking, speaking rodents.
Dangerous Beans: An incredibly clever rat with pink eyes – and poor eyesight. He dreams of a better life for the Clan Rats, and is not fooled by Maurice’s streetwise guile. He has a moderate speaking part and a small, optional solo singing part.
Peaches: A thoughtful young female rat who stands up for and protects Dangerous Beans. She has a moderate speaking part.
Darktan: The practical-minded second-in-command, who is the head of the trap disposal squad – a role which he takes seriously to protect the Clan. He leads the rats against the Rat King after the death of Hamnpork. He has a substantial speaking part and an optional singing solo.
Sardines: A dancing rat with comic timing. Originally raised in the theatre, this rat is a born performer. Sardines has a moderate speaking role with plenty of opportunity for dance routines, especially tap.
Hamnpork: The head rat who is getting on in years. He is a traditionalist who finds the Clan’s transformation difficult. He is often gruff and speaks his mind. A moderate speaking part with a death scene.
Nourishing: A young rat who becomes a sort of apprentice to Darktan. She is eager to please and new to the trap disposal squad. A small speaking role with some funny lines.
Bitesize: A young rat with a talent for widdling! Just one line — but it’s a good one!
The Keekees: “Keekee” is the name the Clan Rats give to the ordinary rats (the unintelligent rats who can’t speak.) It refers to the squeaking noise they make. The Keekees have been caged by the Rat Catchers and the evil Rat King intends to use them as his minions. Four or more children are required for Keekees. They can join in the chorus for all songs, since they sit in front of the stage area. They have small “squeaking” parts and a little acting.
Ron & Bill, Rat Catchers: These are two swaggering villains who are secretly lining their own pockets by stealing food from the town and rat coursing. They revel in their villainy and are suspicious when the Kid and Maurice show up in town. They are larger than life characters who have moderate speaking parts throughout and their own song.
Mayor: The Mayor of Bad Blintz is a bumbling, slightly incompetent official. He is deeply worried by the apparent rat problem that has beset the town. He is Malicia’s father. A small speaking part.
Rat Piper: An arrogant, aloof professional who trades on his reputation to charge exorbitant fees to pipe rats away. He meets his match in the town of Bad Blintz and doesn’t like being outshone by the Kid. A small speaking part in the final scene.
Townsfolk: There are several small but loud speaking parts and chorus opportunities for the townfolk of Bad Blintz: (Newspaper Seller, Town Crier, Market Seller, Townsmen 1,2 & 3, and Watchmen 1 & 2).
The Bone Rat: No Terry Pratchett production would be complete without a part for Death! A small, quirky walk-on part to usher Hamnpork into the afterlife.
There are numerous chorus parts for additional Clan Rats who work in platoons according to their skills (widdling, squeaking/gnawing and trap disposal). All the rats have lots of opportunities to sing. There are also several with speaking parts.
Important Information:
For the audition, children will read from the script and be taught a song. Please do NOT prepare a song for the audition.
A parent or guardian must be present at auditions.
http://www.riverwalktheatre.com